Front Caliper Pistons - metal or phenolic?
06-20-2017, 08:33 PM
#1
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Front Caliper Pistons - metal or phenolic?
I'm planning to do my brakes this weekend. Found out that I could have either metal or phenolic pistons in the front.
Any preference on which one? I've never heard of phenolic brake pistons before. I can't imagine they are as good as metal, but... I have been known to be wrong once or twice before.
It matters on the core charge, but if there's a big difference in favor of the metal, I'll pay the core if it turns out I have phenolic.
Any preference on which one? I've never heard of phenolic brake pistons before. I can't imagine they are as good as metal, but... I have been known to be wrong once or twice before.
It matters on the core charge, but if there's a big difference in favor of the metal, I'll pay the core if it turns out I have phenolic.
06-20-2017, 09:58 PM
#2
CF Veteran
Only thing I can tell you is the one time I had anything other than metal pistons they seized on me. New vehicle and warranty replacements were metal. Don't know what the composite ones were made of though.
06-20-2017, 10:20 PM
#3
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
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Good enough for me, Earl. I'll eat a core charge if I have to. Won't know until I get them off.
06-20-2017, 10:40 PM
#4
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Year: 2001
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I work on Police cars and all the pistons are phenolic because they don't transmit heat like the metal pistons . you can use either pistons you like they both work good .
06-21-2017, 09:02 AM
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Year: 1990
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Had the phenolic on my mediium duty tow trucks. They don't pit or rust.
06-21-2017, 09:06 AM
#7
Caracticus Potts The Mod
Same with me Pete, but over aggressive mechanics do tend to break the phenolic pistons when they push them back into the bore incorrectly...LOL
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06-21-2017, 09:11 AM
#8
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06-21-2017, 09:34 AM
#10
I am pretty sure the phenolic pistons are still metal, they just have a "plastic" coating on them.
Stay away from the Napa Eclipse reman calipers with the phenolic pistons. I had one seize after a year. Took it back for warranty replacement and it took three tries for them to produce one that didn't have a rusty, cracked piston in it.
Stay away from the Napa Eclipse reman calipers with the phenolic pistons. I had one seize after a year. Took it back for warranty replacement and it took three tries for them to produce one that didn't have a rusty, cracked piston in it.
Last edited by gw204; 06-21-2017 at 09:36 AM.
06-21-2017, 09:42 AM
#11
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Year: 1990
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I am pretty sure the phenolic pistons are still metal, they just have a "plastic" coating on them.
Stay away from the Napa Eclipse reman calipers with the phenolic pistons. I had one seize after a year. Took it back for warranty replacement and it took three tries for them to produce one that didn't have a rusty, cracked piston in it.
Stay away from the Napa Eclipse reman calipers with the phenolic pistons. I had one seize after a year. Took it back for warranty replacement and it took three tries for them to produce one that didn't have a rusty, cracked piston in it.
06-21-2017, 09:51 AM
#12
Caracticus Potts The Mod
I am pretty sure the phenolic pistons are still metal, they just have a "plastic" coating on them.
Stay away from the Napa Eclipse reman calipers with the phenolic pistons. I had one seize after a year. Took it back for warranty replacement and it took three tries for them to produce one that didn't have a rusty, cracked piston in it.
Stay away from the Napa Eclipse reman calipers with the phenolic pistons. I had one seize after a year. Took it back for warranty replacement and it took three tries for them to produce one that didn't have a rusty, cracked piston in it.
06-21-2017, 02:24 PM
#13
Who knows. Whatever it is that NAPA is using sure looks like it rusts to me. This was right out of the box...
When I took that back and asked for another one, that one looked just as bad.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SEBSE4890
When I took that back and asked for another one, that one looked just as bad.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SEBSE4890
06-21-2017, 05:25 PM
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
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That ain't good. That's what I've bought. They get picked up tomorrow when my wife is in town. I"ll have to coach her on inspecting them before they leave the store.
