Well here's the problem - 2005 Super V8 with 148K needed new rotors and pads all around. My mechanic finds that one of the bearings is bad, replaces it, and finds that one of the front left caliper pistons (driver side) caliper is stuck closed so that new pads will not fit. It needs to be rebuilt or replaced. If rebuild/replace left side, then same should be done on other side as normal procedure.

The calipers are original to the car, the brembo set-up with the "sport" option calipers which have 4 pistons per caliper. As far as my mechanic and I can tell, these are hard to find and the only source for new is through Jaguar and it will take some time before they arrive to the shop.

New these items are just over $800 each. I obviously would like to find some at a lower price, even if used / refurbished. It may be that I have my existing ones refurbished as well.

My question - My car is "to VIN G4700" and has 365mm front / 330mm rear rotors. Will calipers taken from say -- a same year supercharged S-type or XJR with different rotor size fit my vehicle?

There is a set of four on EBAY for 299$ with part number 20019/20 front and 20523/24 rear, pulled from I think, an XJ-R, and have the 4 piston "sport" set-up and look very similar to those on my car.

Any advice here about caliper source or fitment from similar but not same supercharged cars as mine? Any knowledge of the part number I've given above regarding fitment to my car?

Thanks
Mike D.

 

Can't you source the parts to rebuild the calipers?
Lot cheaper than new, or even used ones.

 

Thanks for the reply Wingrider

Yes the parts are available and that is likely most cost effective, but I would have to send the work out and the timeframe doesn't really work. In addition this particular piston looks to be "not round" so I'm not even sure it can be repaired.

I took a chance and this morning and bought on eBay the set of 4 calipers for 299$. The seller offered a 6 month warranty, and 30 day return so it's as fair a deal as can be found if things don't work. In addition I'll find out for other members whether this is a solution. Somehow I think it will be.

I'll keep the forum posted.

Mike D.

 

Best of luck to you.

 

It would be prudent to put new seals on the set you got off eBay.

 

My STR also has brembos and 365mm fronts (vented; 330mm rear solid) so may well have the same calipers.

 

Thanks to all members who have replied to my thread regarding sticky caliper found while replacing pads and rotors. Here's the continuing story.

The calipers I ordered from eBay do not compress (at least the front, since those were what my mechanic tried), so they will go back to the seller, although I am in the process of trying to find someone to refurbish them, or take it on as a DIY project. For what they sell for new or even refurbished, it seems that fixing them is a good idea. I mean I'm in them for less than 100$ each presently.

We are going to try putting one new one on (left front is the bad one), about $725) and hope by some miracle that the car does not pull (maybe the same God that protected my engine while driving to and from Cleveland/ Columbus in the red) will see fit to save the 700$ for the right side caliper. Ordering new is supposed to take about a week.So we'll see.

Finally, some older brembo caliper threads suggest that our Jag calipers are not high quality and therefore prone to fail over time. My mechanic explained that it's because they are aluminum and not steel and therefore are meant to be replaced at some point. Aluminum for the weight savings of course. This confirms what the older threads had suggested.

I'll let you all know how things turn out - but its great to see a fresh post regarding suspension parts, because that's next for me as well.!!!!! Thanks!

Best!!!
Mike D.

 

All,

Upon further review it seems that caliper failure on our cars is not uncommon, and there are many threads from previous years dealing with this problem. I ultimately had to get 2 new front calipers. While expensive, the car 2005 Super V8 runs so much better it's shocking. Fuel consumption is way down, on the highway the difference is 24.5 vs 27.1 after the repair. The car handles so much better as well it seems as if steering parts were replaced.

RoackAuto has refurbished calipers and I would have bought them if the left front which I needed was in stock. Those were CARDONE calipers and are 188$. Refurb OEM/Centric are not in stock currently, and who knows if ever again. Older threads from 2012 or so found them there, but not now.

I've also decided to keep the ones I ordered from eBay and try to rebuild them as a fun project - seems very doable - we'll see.

Regards,
Mike D.

 

Glad you got sorted out. The Bembos apparently were always trouble and then cost a mint to fix when they did play up. However sticking pistons is not just a Brembo problem, as I eventually had to replace both front calipers on my 2003 XJ6 (X350). These were the aluminium-bodied calipers. ON my later XJ, an X358 of 2007, the calipers were iron and looked awful but I had no trouble with them.