A caliper conundrum

[Art van Law]

I'm looking at the idparts.com page for calipers for my '13TDI JSW and I see there is only one choice (of caliper) for the front. The rear, in contradistinction, have two choices for the left and right rears. One is an OEM part, and the other not labeled as such. There is a significant price delta: $227 for the left rear, and $151 for the right rear caliper. If one believes that price is an accurate predictor of quality, then it's a no brainer, and I would go w/ the more expensive option.
I'm just wondering if it's worth it, perhaps you can weigh in w/ your opinion

I've had two front calipers (OEM) "seize" (one in an '04 Audi w/ 50K miles, the other in a '13 JSW w/ 107K miles) and result in overheating of the rotors such that they needed to be replaced. Since I'm planning on a long trip, I thought it best to have them on hand.

What do you think, are the more expensive OEM calipers offered by idparts.com the better way to go? TY

 

[DivineChaos]

I'm looking at the idparts.com page for calipers for my '13TDI JSW and I see there is only one choice (of caliper) for the front. The rear, in contradistinction, have two choices for the left and right rears. One is an OEM part, and the other not labeled as such. There is a significant price delta: $227 for the left rear, and $151 for the right rear caliper. If one believes that price is an accurate predictor of quality, then it's a no brainer, and I would go w/ the more expensive option.
I'm just wondering if it's worth it, perhaps you can weigh in w/ your opinion

I've had two front calipers (OEM) "seize" (one in an '04 Audi w/ 50K miles, the other in a '13 JSW w/ 107K miles) and result in overheating of the rotors such that they needed to be replaced. Since I'm planning on a long trip, I thought it best to have them on hand.

What do you think, are the more expensive OEM calipers offered by idparts.com the better way to go? TY

First question is, why do you need a caliper?

 

[DivineChaos]

First question is, why do you need a caliper?

Go to a parts store. Get a set of front calipers for a 08 Jetta cup edition. Ones I got were reman oe. I did have to use my original bracket. But the caliper was the same.

 

[Art van Law]

DivineChaos asks: First question is, why do you need a caliper?

I may need both rear calipers b/c the small bracket which holds the e-brake fitting and activates the "parking brake" doesn't return to the off position once the e-brake is released. I have applied Kroil on three separate occasions to the mechanism in the hope it would rebound, but it doesn't. I must persuade it with force to return to the off "aft" position. Instead of using the e-brake, once parked, I put the tranny in gear to avoid movement, and NEVER deploy the e-brake. The cable appears to move freely in it's housing, so I believe a new cable isn't required.

The other reason is I fear the piston in the caliper will no longer retract and the rotor and associated components will overheat (recall I've been burned twice) and my mileage will suffer, not to mention consequences for the life of the pad and true of the rotor (warp.)

 

[DivineChaos]

DivineChaos asks: First question is, why do you need a caliper?

I may need both rear calipers b/c the small bracket which holds the e-brake fitting and activates the "parking brake" doesn't return to the off position once the e-brake is released. I have applied Kroil on three separate occasions to the mechanism in the hope it would rebound, but it doesn't. I must persuade it with force to return to the off "aft" position. Instead of using the e-brake, once parked, I put the tranny in gear to avoid movement, and NEVER deploy the e-brake. The cable appears to move freely in it's housing, so I believe a new cable isn't required.

The other reason is I fear the piston in the caliper will no longer retract and the rotor and associated components will overheat (recall I've been burned twice) and my mileage will suffer, not to mention consequences for the life of the pad and true of the rotor (warp.)

Gotta do fluid changes. Will it not return because of the cable? Ir is it the caliper?