BenjiHoggi
OEM+
- :
- Oregon, USA
- :
- 22v Protege5
* Yes yes yes, I realize this topic has been covered to death, as it's a common issue. I've done some reading but would still like to have the most up-to-date info possible. Apologies for redundancy! *
I bought my car with a non-functioning parking brake. The previous owner told me it stopped working after he had a shop do some brake work about 5 years and 40k ago. The shop replaced the rear calipers and that still didn't fix the parking brake, but the brakes otherwise work fine.
Flash forward to me as the new owner - I checked the lever tension adjustment, checked that the cables are connected, and tried to adjust the 4mm allen adjustment screw. One caliper adjustment would not budge and the other spun freely and does not seem to do be doing anything. The levers for the p-brake cables on the calipers move fine and the the calipers are not rusty or very old. Pads have plenty of life left.
Considering that my main limitations are budget and the fact that this is my only car, below are what I perceive as my options:
I bought my car with a non-functioning parking brake. The previous owner told me it stopped working after he had a shop do some brake work about 5 years and 40k ago. The shop replaced the rear calipers and that still didn't fix the parking brake, but the brakes otherwise work fine.
Flash forward to me as the new owner - I checked the lever tension adjustment, checked that the cables are connected, and tried to adjust the 4mm allen adjustment screw. One caliper adjustment would not budge and the other spun freely and does not seem to do be doing anything. The levers for the p-brake cables on the calipers move fine and the the calipers are not rusty or very old. Pads have plenty of life left.
Considering that my main limitations are budget and the fact that this is my only car, below are what I perceive as my options:
- Buy junkyard calipers for cheap
- If junkyard calipers are junk, rebuild (is this possible or recommended?)
- Rebuild current calipers (is this possible or recommended?)
- Must be done quickly, will need new calipers anyway if rebuild fails.
- Replace calipers
- I don't see there being any non-remanufactured options.
- I've seen mixed reviews on RockAuto reman. calipers, and I'd rather not be fighting with poor quality and returns.
- OEM is outrageously expensive ($265 ea.)
- Swap over to 98+ 626 v6 rear brakes to avoid further issues?
- Calipers are cheaper but I'll also need rotors/pads/brackets so overall cost is higher (but maybe worth it?)
- Possible brake imbalance from too much rear-bias (626 calipers/rotors are larger, I'm already planning to do MZ6 front swap in the far future but not yet)
- Get 626 parts at junkyard? (pretty hard to find a 98-02 v6 626 now a days)