Rep Power: 117

Regarding my 2003 Civic EX
I just replaced the rotors and pads and need to change the front passenger side caliper.
Compressing the passenger side piston took some effort.
Drivers side piston compressed easy and as expected.

Any suggestions for buying an aftermarket caliper?
Any particular brand(s) to consider?
Are rebuilt calipers worth considering vs new? Asking as there seems to be a fair amount of rebuilt calipers on sites like Rockauto.

 
Rep Power: 222

I would do both sides. And I would buy locally so you don't have to ship it back to rockauto for the core

 
Rep Power: 117

Any suggestions on brands?
Locally there are Autozone, O’Reilly, Federated, and Sanel/ NAPA parts stores.


(Fwiw the four above can be a bit more expensive than online).
Don’t most online sellers give a free label for shipping the core back?
I’m 1/2 mile away from UPS, FedEx and Amazon drop off shipping locations.
Dropping off a box wouldn’t be a big deal.

 
Rep Power: 224

I think RockAuto usually provides a discounted return label, you still have to pay some.

Personally, I would stay away from reman. Maybe I expect too much, but the Power Stop remans I had on the front of my Civic lasted about 4 years before pistons started sticking due to corrosion. I replaced them with Raybestos Element3 calipers. Coated for corrosion resistance (although they are listed in the uncoated section on RockAuto), all new parts, lifetime warranty, and only ~$50 each before shipping. No issues with them yet, admittedly only a few years old though.

For reference, the Raybestos remans are ~$45 each before shipping both ways and only have an 18 month warranty. I think the remans come with pads, but still. The Power Stop remans are ~$56 each and came with a 90 day warranty. Warranties have become much more important to me in the last few years so having a lifetime warranty for about the same price as remans all for about the same price is a very good deal.

 
Rep Power: 222

The napa ones with the lifetime warranty are good

 
Rep Power: 367

45-50 each?!? for all the work that goes into making them, i thought they would be more expensive...

 
Rep Power: 117

After dealing with the lies from CARiD about the purchase I placed with them (long brutal story not worth going into - but bottom line stay away from them!) I went to NAPA, picked up the caliper and had installed it in under an hour. Much of that hour was spent pulling out the tools and putting them away. The caliper installation was a breeze. As soon as the finances improve a bit I’ll do the drivers side.

Thanks to all for your help. As always the knowledge and insight you offer is invaluable to me. I am so very grateful…..

 
Rep Power: 183

I bought a new Raybestos from RockAuto, 135 CAD tax + shipping included to Canada, no core return, all hardware included. Perfect fit, no fiddling around. Replaced it in Q4 2022.