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[Diamond Black Geezer]

A source of slider bolts is on a famous auction site, the seller is called 'biggred4u' - website http://www.biggred.co.uk/ (which is down at time of writing) who are re-manufacturing these pins for various vehicles. For the Seat Alhambra VW Sharan, but they claim are the same as Omega front bolts. Priced at £4.90 each which I don't think is insane.

I've been on the lookout for Omega Slider Bolts for the front calipers - they're tricky things to get hold of. Vauxhall don't seem to want to sell them, unless you want a whole caliper, too (if anyone hears different, please post) I'm ordering myself a set. Will post my findings.  On the other hand if anyone on here can show me an alternative source - genuine GM for instance, please do  I was expecting the bolts to be easy to source, and used on Vectras, Astras etc.. but they are Omega-specific, it seems.  Again, if anyone knows different, please post. 

[BazaJT]

Don't know if it's same company or not but I have read in classic car magazines of a company called Big Red who it seems specialise in rebuilding brake calipers/selling refurb kits etc. so it could be same company.Don't know about compatibility with Sharan parts and the like,but if it's same company then I'd imagine they know what they're on about.As ever I stand to be corrected on this.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Yeah, same guys I think. 

The only issue is that the best I can do without a pair of calipers (measuring, not brake) is the diameter of my bolts seem to be 9mm ish, and they quote 8.2mm. (I know, that is '9mm-ish' but to an engineer 0.8mm's a mile out) and also they claim 60mm length - Omega ones are 71mm (ish!). On the listing they state all pins are the actual one you will receive, no 'stock photo' rubbish like you often get. and holding it against the screen they appear the same length. From shoulder to end the length is 60mm, so perhaps it's just an error in the listing.

 

[Seth]

Recommend these people: http://www.brakeparts.co.uk/#!/shop/VAUXHALL/OMEGA/94-01/OMEGA%202.5%20TURBO%20DIESEL%20inc%20ELITE/Front%20-%20Brake%20Calipers%20and%20Wheel%20cylinders/BCF1301

 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Thanks Seth 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Just ordered me a set - so no-one go and tell me they can get them from Vauxhall for less than £9.80 the pair!!! 

[VXL V6]

Hmmm. SEAT Alhambra has 3 variations of front caliper on the series II models

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ah, thanks for the heads up - though these have been bought on their size, which they tell me is the same as that listed for Seat Albramrambramra rather than being told 'oh, Omegas and Alhabrahambhrarambrabramhhahs share the same slider bolt' and me then blindly going out and buying a set, unaware I've only got a 1/3 chance of getting the right ones, type of thing. The other site which Seth linked to also quotes these as being 60mm long, and 8mm diameter, so in theory should be fine. In theory 

[Webby the Bear]

I'll ask..... 

Why do you need new / replacement slide pins DBG? 

[VXL V6]

I'll ask..... 

Why do you need new / replacement slide pins DBG? 

Maybe if the vehicle has been sat around for a while and the rubber boots have perished they may have started to rust. Had this on one side of the 3.2 but just cleaned it all up, greased and put back together.

[Webby the Bear]

I'll ask..... 

Why do you need new / replacement slide pins DBG? 

Maybe if the vehicle has been sat around for a while and the rubber boots have perished they may have started to rust. Had this on one side of the 3.2 but just cleaned it all up, greased and put back together.

Yup... wire wheel, silicone paste. Done.

[Nick W]

I'll ask..... 

Why do you need new / replacement slide pins DBG? 

You've never experienced a knackered pad escaping a seized caliper, tearing the valve out of the wheel on its way then? With a load of two cars, that was an unpleasant surprise. It took me ages to get the sliders out so I could polish them with some emery tape.


Ensuring that the sliders are free is something  you should do anytime you work on a sliding caliper.

[Webby the Bear]

I'll ask..... 

Why do you need new / replacement slide pins DBG? 

You've never experienced a knackered pad escaping a seized caliper, tearing the valve out of the wheel on its way then? With a load of two cars, that was an unpleasant surprise. It took me ages to get the sliders out so I could polish them with some emery tape.


Ensuring that the sliders are free is something  you should do anytime you work on a sliding caliper.

Apologies if I gave the wrong impression Nick. Everytime I do brakes I ensure the slides get cleaned and greased up with silicone paste. 

Come across about 5 fubar'd calipers now (all on my mate's family's Hyundais.....trajet and coupe  ). only one had the slide pins seized.....which was sent away with caliper for refurb anyway. 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Whoah, sorry if this has provoked disagreement 

Basically the story is - I caught the rubber gaiter with the wire brush, putting a hole in it. (was just about to stop to mask off the rubber, so I didn't put a hole in it - ain't that always the way?  ) so consequently the caliper has been fully stripped down (that's piston out, seal out, the lot) and painted. Good, used bleed nipples are ready for going in, replacing the rounded old one. One of the slider bolts seems perfectly serviceable, the other has has water ingress , and corrosion approaching the sliding part. The brakes were very stuck on, hence the stripdown, and I couldn't discount the slider bolts being the cause. It's my belief that the corrosion on the lip where the smaller gaiter/boot sits over isn't a very good seal, so more water could/will easily get in again.

I'm being a right tight-fisted g!t where I can, the whole project is on a shoestring and minimum-wage budget, but never at the expense of safety, or cost in the long-run, if you all follow.

Total cost of the refurb so far

bleed nipples - free
Paint Enamel - £6
Brake discs - free (mate's unused ones)
Brake pads - free (mate's unused ones)
Wire brushes - already had them in
Vinegar - £0.44 (de-rusting the bolts etc)

total of £6.44 per caliper, I'm getting there! 

So adding the slide bolts which should be good as new for many years (as I'll be regularly checking them annually, unlike previous owners  ) adds just under a tenner to the cost. Re-using all bolts. I was getting replacement new, but opted for refurbing the old.

[Webby the Bear]

No disagreement mate... just curious 

If you feel they're compromised and you aren't comfortable tidying up and re-using then definitely replace 

Lube new ones up with silicone paste. Don't use grease.... it'll dry up over time and could cause them to stick again in future