Where have all the remans gone?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Where have all the remans gone?
Does anyone know what's going on with finding remanufactured calipers for the rear end? They seem to have fallen off the face of the earth, both the iron ones and the aluminum. I just rescued an 89 GTA and am looking down the road when I get to the brakes and may or may not need replacements.
Did a search, did quite a few searches actually, but have found no information. No aftermarket parts stores, no online stores, no nothing. Anyone have any insights? TIA
Did a search, did quite a few searches actually, but have found no information. No aftermarket parts stores, no online stores, no nothing. Anyone have any insights? TIA
#2
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,932
Likes: 0
Received 1,860 Likes
on
1,274 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
No reman outfit can exist without a steady supply of cores to rebuild. The biggest channel of core returns is through auto parts stores. Maybe call your local auto parts stores and ask the manager.
The following users liked this post:
lasher_350 (07-12-2020)
#3
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,117
Received 1,688 Likes
on
1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
Zackly..
You can't reman something unless you have cores. As cars with those old systems vanish into the crusher, their cores go with them. Junkyards sometimes pull the particularly desirable (= valuable; = worth their time to mess with it) things off of cars before they crush the bodies, but brakes aren't often among those, since they're time-consuming and don't bring much $$$, and therefore aren't profitable to jack around with.
If you have a future need for a remanned something or other, best to check availability now and then, snag it when it shows up, and put it on the shelf. Same for rebuild kits, for things you can do yourself. That way you can even rebuild your old ones, if they're worth rebuilding. If not, gift em to your favorite parts store, so they go back to somebody that maybe can revitalize em, and at least keep em in the pool.
Your 89-92 brakes aren't getting all that scarce yet, but will eventually. Might want to start thinking ahead.
You can't reman something unless you have cores. As cars with those old systems vanish into the crusher, their cores go with them. Junkyards sometimes pull the particularly desirable (= valuable; = worth their time to mess with it) things off of cars before they crush the bodies, but brakes aren't often among those, since they're time-consuming and don't bring much $$$, and therefore aren't profitable to jack around with.
If you have a future need for a remanned something or other, best to check availability now and then, snag it when it shows up, and put it on the shelf. Same for rebuild kits, for things you can do yourself. That way you can even rebuild your old ones, if they're worth rebuilding. If not, gift em to your favorite parts store, so they go back to somebody that maybe can revitalize em, and at least keep em in the pool.
Your 89-92 brakes aren't getting all that scarce yet, but will eventually. Might want to start thinking ahead.
The following users liked this post:
lasher_350 (07-12-2020)
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
I have done the research, and there are rebuild parts available at least, and it's not outside my scope of mechanical abilities, so I'll go that route I believe. I'll probably have them powder coated while they are apart as well. It's sad that they are becoming so scarce, though, the whole caliper. I'll keep looking like sofakingdom stated and grab what I can when I can. This project car won't be on the street that soon, so I can take my time.
#7
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,117
Received 1,688 Likes
on
1,283 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
convert to ls1 rear disc brakes
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
While I can't disagree with cores being needed for rebuild and those diminishing due to age of the platform, there is something else going on too. COVID is disrupting re-man parts supply because plants that do the re-manufacturing had been shut down just like a lot of others. Since people were still buying parts during this time it reduced supply and inventory. Also shipping was disrupted during this time and getting cores back wad delayed. Cores coming in are processed based on market demand. Obviously there is not a lot of Thirdgens getting brakes redone in the mass market. So, even though supply is low, they are probably setting on cores too.
#9
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MI
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 iroc
Engine: 350 vortec HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 370
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
Damn Covid! Went to get some remans for my 9 bolt and yeah, multiple auto stores did not have them and could not order them in either, everywhere showing zero. Other than going LS1 backing plates, does anyone have a schematic how to modify your backing plates for a newer caliper - wondering what my options are at this point.
Last edited by 86camaroZ; 09-14-2020 at 08:48 PM.
#10
Member
iTrader: (2)
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
A while back, I was having trouble getting rear calipers for a 9 bolt and was on a real time crunch. If you don't mind giving up your parking brake, front calipers almost bolt right on the back. That got me by until I could get the right parts.
#12
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,723
Received 773 Likes
on
520 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
Damn Covid! Went to get some remans for my 9 bolt and yeah, multiple auto stores did not have them and could not order them in either, everywhere showing zero. Other than going LS1 backing plates, does anyone have a schematic how to modify your backing plates for a newer caliper - wondering what my options are at this point.
#13
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MI
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 86 iroc
Engine: 350 vortec HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 370
#14
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
Cardone told me if I send in my aluminum PBR calipers from my 89 there was an "80% chance" they could rebuild them. I recently got a reman DS full aluminum caliper from them and I noticed the aluminum caliper was not a core ie it did not have cast with the Australian PBR logo and such, there was no marking on it at all. Someone made new cast aluminum calipers for a while...
The Wagner rebuild kit from Australia is long gone. I've been watching for full rebuild kits for a couple years now. Only the rubbers seem to be available any more. heh-heh he said "rubbers."
The PS rear caliper seems to be gone also.
The Wagner rebuild kit from Australia is long gone. I've been watching for full rebuild kits for a couple years now. Only the rubbers seem to be available any more. heh-heh he said "rubbers."
The PS rear caliper seems to be gone also.
#15
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 212 is up in this Bit@#
Posts: 2,763
Received 739 Likes
on
565 Posts
Car: Resto-Mod 1987 IROC-Z Clone
Engine: Alky fed L92 Vortec Twin-Turbo 6.8L
Transmission: My own built/ design 4L80M
Axle/Gears: Custom 12 bolt (4.10:1)
Re: Where have all the remans gone?
EB Miller of Fly N Bye should have what you need.
Honestly the Iron rear brake calipers were horrible and hardly did much to help slow these cars down...
Switching to the PBR calipers for our cars was a HUGE improvement in braking!!!
Honestly the Iron rear brake calipers were horrible and hardly did much to help slow these cars down...
Switching to the PBR calipers for our cars was a HUGE improvement in braking!!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
89' RS/blue
Suspension and Chassis
10
05-19-2004 01:24 PM