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.

 

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.

 

Good enough for me, Earl. I'll eat a core charge if I have to. Won't know until I get them off.

 

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 .

 

Good info, tech! Thank you!

 

Had the phenolic on my mediium duty tow trucks. They don't pit or rust.

 

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

 

Yes, I suppose. good thing I did the job!!

Always those who can bend a digging bar in a sand pile.....

 

phenolic pistons are the better choice, for all the reasons stated above.

 

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.

 

I'm not sure they are....

 

there is no metal in them, phenolic is plastic

 

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

 

those look like R & R calipers.......Remove & Repaint.

 

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.