I bought some new calipers...

ER1C said:

BRITPART are OEM suppliers now..

For example

http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/front-radius-bush-chassis-britpart-nrc4514g-p-33479.html

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they allways have been

So would it be better to rebuild old calipers with stainless steel pistons or purchase new AP-Lockheed calipers and save on the rebuild time/hassle?
These seem to be quite reasonable from Paddocks:
http://www.paddockspares.com/seb500470g-front-brake-caliper-new-lh-vented-from-la930456-ap.html
Thanks,
Colin

A brief update.
Last week I passed the calipers on to Trading Standards who have taken an interest.
I will post another update when I know more.
If anyone else has had a bad experience with safety critical parts please get in touch.

Paul in Sussex said:

I purchased some new calipers in order to upgrade my 200 TID Defender to later vented brakes. I got Mintex discs and eventually Allmakes 4X4 calipers. The first set sent were Britpart. I had already told the supplier that I don't buy Britpart so they went back and the Allmakes 4X4 sent out.
They looked awful so I split one for a better look. All but one of the four bolts was far too loose. The 'spacer' plate between the caliper halves has these seals... See attached pictures. I called Allmakes and asked to speak to a director. I was told he was busy and would call back. Must be very busy.
How is this even legal?

View attachment 144461 View attachment 144462

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I would write to LR magazines (easy to do these days with email - 1 email then send to them all) most are under the thumb of the parts suppliers but one may listen, I would then also write to trading standards but more importantly see if anyone will listen to you at the Vehicle Certification Agency bringing to their attention construction and use etc. This is not a department I would be familiar with lobbying but someone may take this up for you and cause ALLMAKES feel some heat. What may be sufficient is if you put together your proposal and give a director/procurement director etc. the chance to make good and discuss properly with you their intentions to make good this issue for you and going forward.

Another update...
In March I took the calipers to the local Trading Standards office.

Trading Standards (TS) eventually sent the parts to an 'expert' who proclaimed that they were just fine... I asked to see his report but TS refused. My MP feels the matter is outside her purview.

I contacted the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) who directed me to their Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB).

I have today received an email from VSB stating that "the case has been taken forward and we are now awaiting information back from the manufacturer". That doesn't mean anything will actually happen of course, but fingers crossed.

I do hope that some good comes out of all this. I am currently trying to purchase suspension bushes and struggling with the usual "do I buy a no-brand bush for £1.50 or genuine Land Rover for £20 - or pretend OEM from Britpart and the like (unbranded - plain box- but definitely OEM...). I have negotiated a 10% discount with Harwoods in the hope that fitting the real thing will have long term benefits that outweigh initial economy. My Defender has clocked over 260,000 miles, 90,000 with me and works nearly every day (I have an old XJ8 for long trips, I must like old British junk!)

While we are on the subject would anyone sell me the little spacers that separate the two halves on calipers for vented discs? I believe that is the only difference in the calipers between vented and non-vented? There is a guy in Australia who makes them but they cost about £120 by the time they get here. I rebuilt the existing calipers a few years ago with all the right bits so I guess I just need the spacers and longer bolts.

They clearly are not fit for purpose, and you're right to keep at them for a sensible resolution; you may have to quote Legislation at them though. Also consider sending a FOI request to TS - they will be obliged to provide the report, and be severely penalised if they do not. As the report has already been produced, it won't cost you anything more than a small admin fee at very most.

Hi all
I thought this would be a good time for an update on the 'caliper issues'.
I corresponded back and forth with DVSA's Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB) for a while - they didn't generally respond until prompted. The last response from VSB on 19 November last year was as follows:

"Hope you are well,

The supplier has provided DVSA with a response including documentation from the manufacturer to support the build quality process of the brake calipers. They have also confirmed that this is the first time this issue has been raised with this product"...

I replied re-iterating my concerns over the poor quality castings, poor seals and un-torqued bolts and attaching pictures (elsewhere on this thread). No reply.

I guess bull**** really does baffle brains. This, I suppose is how the suppliers get away with selling dangerous rubbish. Not until someone is killed will any attention be paid to this, if ever. What do we pay taxes for?...

Paul in Sussex said:

Hi all
I thought this would be a good time for an update on the 'caliper issues'.
I corresponded back and forth with DVSA's Vehicle Safety Branch (VSB) for a while - they didn't generally respond until prompted. The last response from VSB on 19 November last year was as follows:

"Hope you are well,

The supplier has provided DVSA with a response including documentation from the manufacturer to support the build quality process of the brake calipers. They have also confirmed that this is the first time this issue has been raised with this product"...

I replied re-iterating my concerns over the poor quality castings, poor seals and un-torqued bolts and attaching pictures (elsewhere on this thread). No reply.

I guess bull**** really does baffle brains. This, I suppose is how the suppliers get away with selling dangerous rubbish. Not until someone is killed will any attention be paid to this, if ever. What do we pay taxes for?...

Click to expand...

Sadly all these type of organisations are all talk and no trousers, they cant/wont cause to much fuss as I would hazard a guess the money they need to survive comes from the sellers themselves in one way or another.
The sensible thing to do is find a good supplier and stick with them, but even then they may tell you to swivel as being honest theres no shortage of wiling customers always looking for the best deal.
Annoyingly what can be pants one day can then be the best thing since sliced bread the next.

This is one of the many reasons I dont buy warranties for anythng I buy from white good to cars, its all a scam to get money out of your pocket and give nothing back, pretty much like most so called friends!