Whats best for Brakes...?

[SRD]

Just a question:

What is best in anyones opinions on fixing brake parts?

1. Rebuild original calipers on my 1999 Ranger 2wd....though rebuild parts seem to be After Market Only.
2. Replace the OEM factory caliper with New After Market Caliper
3. Replace with Original with Original but Calipers for that Model seems to be
"Discontinued" by Ford.

Any pros or cons would be appreciated....I need to make a choice and fix the front calipers so any advice would be appreciated.

*Truck is 1999 XLT 2wd 3.0 Gas Ford Ranger 4 door.

Thanks.

 

[ericbphoto]

If OEM is discontinued, then it's not a choice. Between rebuild or replace caliper? I would go by price and ambition, but only consider good quality parts. In other words, if the rebuild kit is only a few dollars less than a whole new caliper, then I'm not going to have the ambition to do the rebuild. I'm probably not going to spend an extra hour on the job if it only saves me $5-$10 unless I am absolutely dead broke and have to borrow the money to buy the parts so I can fix it and get to work for my next paycheck. I haven't been in that position in many years.

 

[19Walt93]

I rebuilt the ones on my Ranger and Mustang using new caliper pistons. If you can't get pistons, buy the reman caliper.

 

[SRD]

Thanks for the Advice. I guess after review I would further define the ? as:

Is it better to keep an "Original" Ford Caliper and rebuild with After Market parts for longevity and compatability reasons or is the "After Market" version "Equal" in overall compatability and quality to the OEM. This is of course is not being concerned as much with price and time as with longevity if keeping the truck till the grave.

Anyway, thanks again for the response. If anyone has a location of where to get original Ford Calieprs New anywhere lmk....If the after market parts are fine I might just replace over rebuild then.
SRD

 

[Ranger850]

If it were me, and I had the money, I would look into what I would need for a mild upgrade. I prefer my brakes to be overkill, better to have too much than not enough.

 

[O No 3.0!]

I worked at pep boys for 11 yrs & did brakes on thousands of cars. I replaced alot of calipers on all different makes. All were factory remans from different parts outlets. Don't remember ever having a problem with any of them.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I too have always just replaced them with whatever brand was available at the parts store. Only one time one of em froze up right away on my buddys cherokee. They replaced it free under warranty.

 

[racsan]

Ive always purchased rebuilt calipers, usually in pairs even if I was just having a issue with one. Last weekend though I only did the problem right side on the escape, those suckers are nearly $70 before core. It was hanging up and you could smell brake after a drive. Put new pads on it also, they did seem to have even wear but were about half gone. Not suprizing after all the trailer towing it’s done the past year. With my ‘93 it would eat up a set of front pads in a year easy if I towed the box trailer a lot. I noticed the estimate mpg on the escspe has gone up some too since the caliper change, makes sense since there was constant drag going on with the r.f. The last time I did the ranger brakes it got everything new up front, the rubber flex lines were bad and the bleeders were seized. I also put new steel lines on too, calipers for it arent too bad. I have ‘97 knuckles to put on so I can upgrade to dual-piston calipers, just haven’t done it yet. I’ll need new calipers, rotors & ball joints (again) Not sure when I will get to it, more pressing issues at hand right now.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Back when I was doing a lot of rebuilds and buying pre-built I would always check the bore size. I found a few where the bore was much larger than spec...

 

[moparownr]

Just a question:

What is best in anyones opinions on fixing brake parts?

1. Rebuild original calipers on my 1999 Ranger 2wd....though rebuild parts seem to be After Market Only.
2. Replace the OEM factory caliper with New After Market Caliper
3. Replace with Original with Original but Calipers for that Model seems to be
"Discontinued" by Ford.

Any pros or cons would be appreciated....I need to make a choice and fix the front calipers so any advice would be appreciated.

*Truck is 1999 XLT 2wd 3.0 Gas Ford Ranger 4 door.

Thanks.

I see you have decided to repair or replace calipers, in this situation I always go replace, its worth the money not to take apart a caliper and then reassemble it. If you have not already done so, I would replace the rotors and pads and hoses as well, nothing stops like a new brake system.