question of quality
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
question of quality
OK, I'm driving home from the local Tire Barn with a new set of BF Goodrich Radials. I come to a stop light.....and all of a sudden my brake pedal hits the floor. I call me sister to come and tail me home while i go 15 mph back to my garage. Ends up I blew one of the seals in my front right caliper. The cylinder has some scaring that can't really be fixed unless you sleeve it. I'm on an extremely tight budget and saw that AutoZone has "FENCO_REMAN" front calipers for $61.99 plus a $34 core charge. Has anybody used these? I'm not expecting them to be the quality of say....new calipers from Vette Brakes. I just want them to work. I only have about 10-15 miles on my new tires and its driving me crazy. It does say that these calipers have new stainless steel sleeves. Any recommendations?
Last edited by jonny4523; Dec 1, 2004 at 08:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Also, where would be the best place to buy new break lines keeping money in mind. I was just going to use Corvette Central, but was curious to see if anyone knew of any small places with good deals. I'm just looking at the front for right now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
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From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by stingr69
Yes I have the Fenco calipers from Autozone. All 4 calipers on my car work great but it took 7 calipers to find a good set of 4 to drive with. 
-Mark.
-Mark.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
I installed the Autozone calipers on my 79. All four work fine. They all worked fine from the start. They have a good warranty too. I can understand understand upgrading at some point, but for good brakes at a decent price, Autozone answered my needs. Good luck with what ever choice you make!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 1,510
From: Little Rock AR
Originally Posted by jonny4523
What went bad with the other 3?
The first bad one leaked fluid from the dust boot. It was from the set of 4 I bought. I took it back for a replacement that was also bad. It had been welded and ground down at some point and the halves were not paralell so the new full thickness pads would not fit over the rotor. If you can visualize the caliper was "closed up" a bit by the Bubba modification. That core should have been thrown in the trash! I had to drive across town to get yet another caliper because the store I usualy buy from was now out of stock on the Vette calipers. I had to leave the defective caliper in place while I purchased the new rebuilt caliper so the brake fluid would not leak out all over the floor and subsequently require me to re-bench bleed the new master cylinder. This required me to pay an additional core charge up front that was refunded when I brought back the wacky welded caliper. GRRRR!!! So maybe it was 6 and not 7 as I lost count at some point but you get the idea.
Oh yea, then we had to BLEED the Vette brakes after all that fun!!! _oh MY!
-Mark.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
I bought 4 calipers from AutoZone, one had a worn thread where the line is connected... they replaced it without any questions.... I noticed this after I painted all 4 calipers... 
After I installed all four and finished the bleeding I tested them "my way" .... with the engine running (power brakes) I pushed the brake pedal down and locked it there with a 2x4 .... 10 minutes later there were no leaks visible.... today (3 months later) they're still not leaking.... yes, I took the 2x4 out .....
They have a life time warranty, not bad for 250$ for all four.... just bring the old ones to the store when you buy the new ones and you don't have to pay the core charge...
After I installed all four and finished the bleeding I tested them "my way" .... with the engine running (power brakes) I pushed the brake pedal down and locked it there with a 2x4 .... 10 minutes later there were no leaks visible.... today (3 months later) they're still not leaking.... yes, I took the 2x4 out .....
They have a life time warranty, not bad for 250$ for all four.... just bring the old ones to the store when you buy the new ones and you don't have to pay the core charge...
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,360
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From: COVINGTON LA
Originally Posted by jonny4523
What went bad with the other 3?
I went through 4 A/C compressors on my old truck before I got a good one, this is just one example, I have a list a mile long. Autozone is a last resort for me, I'd rather pay a little more and do the job once 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
I don't know who does the Autozone remans, but Advanced Auto carries the Cardone rebuilds with lifetime warranty which I've had good luck with in the past on other cars. And I've heard of a few people here that used their rebuilds with success.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
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From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by wcsinx
I don't know who does the Autozone remans, but Advanced Auto carries the Cardone rebuilds with lifetime warranty which I've had good luck with in the past on other cars. And I've heard of a few people here that used their rebuilds with success.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Originally Posted by jonny4523
So are the Cardone supposed to be better? I have both an Advance and an Autozone right next to each other, so I could go to either one. I just want something that is going to stop my car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 896
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From: Lafayette, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Sounds like a winner, you're a good salesman.
Hmm....what about break lines. Those could probably use a good replacing too. Already have the new master cylinder installed.
Is $25 for all four rubber brake hoses sound like a good deal? What about the steel lines?
Hmm....what about break lines. Those could probably use a good replacing too. Already have the new master cylinder installed.
Is $25 for all four rubber brake hoses sound like a good deal? What about the steel lines?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by jonny4523
Sounds like a winner, you're a good salesman.
Hmm....what about break lines. Those could probably use a good replacing too. Already have the new master cylinder installed.
Is $25 for all four rubber brake hoses sound like a good deal? What about the steel lines?
Hmm....what about break lines. Those could probably use a good replacing too. Already have the new master cylinder installed.
Is $25 for all four rubber brake hoses sound like a good deal? What about the steel lines?
I installed the stainless brake line kit from MidAmerica and also the braided lines/hoses ... works great...
AutoZone or Advance Auto don't offer stainless lines or braided hose...
And don't worry: the long line on the drivers side can be replaced without lifting the body, I did it - it is a litttle tricky but it does work - you will have to get 4 ton jackstands, these are the taller ones..