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Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:22 pm
by tennentj
Hi,
I've been having a problem with one of my front calipers sticking. I've stripped it several times but the piston is not returning properly. I called a motor factors who quoted me £150 for one caliper which is a shocker. Have any of you sourced one before for a more reasonable price?
Help,
Jack
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:33 pm
by rita
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:06 pm
by corblimey
Hi Jack
Yeap, just ordered one yesterday! I was quoted £190 by my garage.
Details here
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=47100
I rang up and spoke to a very helpful bloke, only trouble is I wasn't convinced we were talking about the same Bongo (think he was talking about the E series). The part number he gave didn't match with the one I looked up on their website. In the end I ordered directly from their website using the part # I found. Their site is pretty rubbish and at the payment stage it said there was an error. Despite that I still got an order confirmation, and a dispatch email this morning so fingers crossed.
Each time you look up a new part you need to click the "Home" otherwise the search doesn't work.
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:12 pm
by 321Away
didnt look all the way through but entered search criteria and they say Bongo front caliper, but all the ones i looked at only had a single piston, not double like bongo's haveon the front? just mentioning it so you dont pick the wrong type.
julian
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:16 pm
by corblimey
They are there you just need to trawl down through all the pages (page 3 I think).
Nearside here
http://www.autopartswarehouse.co.uk/pro ... ?ID=157821
Offside here
http://www.autopartswarehouse.co.uk/pro ... ?ID=157820
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:22 am
by tennentj
Hi folks,
Thanks so much for your help and the links. The price is much better as the best I could get was £135 at trade price from Andy Watts car parts. I think I'll order it as it looks like the right one,but my only concern is some of the negative reviews of the company.
Thanks again for your help,
Jack
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:26 am
by MountainGoat
Have you tried Thomson's Breakers in Gala, they had three Bongos in for braking last year.
Tony
http://www.sithomson.co.uk/
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:31 am
by mikeonb4c
MountainGoat wrote:Have you tried Thomson's Breakers in Gala, they had three Bongos in for braking last year.
Tony
http://www.sithomson.co.uk/
Only three Bongos braking?
There must have been a lot of pile-ups

Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:28 pm
by tennentj
Hi Tony,
I was thinking about Thomson's but I'm wary of ending up buying a second hand one thats no better than what I have. I'll give them a call and see what they say. I'm also trying to source a company that rebuilds them.
Cheers,
Jack
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:04 pm
by corblimey
Hi Jack
My bits turned up today
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 31#p480731
Hope you get yours sorted.
Cheers
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:00 am
by tennentj
I ended up finnaly freeing mine and they're working again. Having said that I may end up buying calipers if they give me any more grief in the future. Can you let me know if your rebuilt calipers are in good condition as I'll probably use the same company if they are.
Hope you brakes are sorted by the time you read this.
Cheers,
Jack
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:05 am
by corblimey
Hi Jack
Yeah, got my capliper fitted and had the pitted rear discs done at the same time. Also had new pads all round.
The caliper is effectively a brand new unit. New pistions, rubber components, re-plated and fully tested.
If you scroll down their home page
http://www.brake-eng.com you'll see a section about calipers that details what a "re-manufacture" involves.
I was a little concerned about the customer service of the supplier due to some of their EBay feedback but to be fair that was a minority of the thousands of sales they do and they were very helpful on the phone. Also, wasn't confident it was the right part but I checked and double checked before ordering and it was fine.
Frankly, at that price it seems like a no brainer to replace rather than fitting a new seal kit.
Anyway, I'm happy now and am looking forward to more mpg!
Re: Front Calipers
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:02 pm
by Ron Miel
I've got a refurbished nearside one I bought before Christmas from a Bongo-friendly garage with a top reputation on here. Didn't need it in the end, as the old one freed up fine once it was removed. Could return it by paying 25% re-stocking fee but haven't yet got around to it, so if anybody else needs one at some point, PM me. If I've still got it then, you're welcome to it for what I paid (about half the best price mentioned above - invoice available), plus organise your own collection or Bongo Relay.