t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Looking to buy a set of LS400 front brake calipers and rotors from a fellow CL'er, and the only hold-up is determining if the rotors are OEM or not. He can't find any markings on them, but I would assume anything from the factory would be stamped. Aftermarket rotors don't have the best of reputations, so I'd rather spend a few bucks more and buy new ones from Sewell ($70 ea + s/h) if there's no way of telling for sure. Should there be markings, and if so, what would they be in general?

oldManTan

get DBA rotors, best in the biz. got my front TT rotors from DBA. they're double the price but well worth it.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Is DBA a brand or a vendor?

oldManTan

DBA is Disc Brakes Australia, a brand. look into their products. they all have their own vanes inside the rotors that aren't just straight lines but kangaroo paw prints. helps with rigidity, cooling, and so on.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Their online catalog doesn't show '95+ LS400 rotors as being available through the US site, and I'm not sure what to look under for the Australia models. Celsior, right? All I'm seeing for that is brake pads. At any rate, I'm not keen on going drilled and/or slotted. The downsides exceed the positives, IMO. Although, vanes inside the rotors would be different than slotted, so that may not be what you meant...

oldManTan

the vanes are what set DBA rotors apart from all other rotors. i've heard nothing but great things about them and love my TT rotors. i guess they don't sell LS rotors then.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Still no luck finding anything about OEM markings, but I did see mentions in the LS section that Centric makes very good rotors for half the cost of OEM. So, barring any way of determining that lightly used rotors are indeed OEM, it makes the most sense to buy calipers and rotors separately instead of paying a premium for the unknown combo.

oldManTan

it seems that people buy some pretty overpriced stuf used (especially brakes). one of my front TT calipers cracked at the bleeder valve so i got remanned one from advance auto for 109 bucks. and people pay like 500 for a pair. it's pretty ridiculous.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

It's odd that the various auto part stores carry reman'd TT calipers but not LS ones. I'd love to be able to walk around the corner to AutoZone and inspect the set in person... I've considered the Cardone reman'd LS calipers for $90-100 ea, and may still go that route for peace of mind, but then you have to pick up all the hardware and pads still.

oldManTan

which is what like 40 bucks? still better than 200 per caliper

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

LS calipers are nowhere near that much. They're a fraction the cost of TT calipers. LS sets usually go for $100-150 with hardware and pads in whatever condition. $200 would be in excellent shape and probably powder coated or something. So, buying those missing pieces from a reman'd set is a pretty big percentage of the cost of a used set.

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

Speaking of remanufactured brakes... I knew AutoZone carries reman'd TT calipers, but for some reason I had totally missed until just now that they also have the A1 Cardone '95+ LS calipers under the Duralast banner. I thought I had looked for them before, so maybe inventory comes and goes?

Part #C9294 and # C9295. $70 + $35 core for each side, including the full hardware kit. Assuming brakes aren't exempted from the ever-present ship-to-home specials, that's about $80 per caliper including the core charge (dunno how I feel about following the lead of others and taking back my calipers for the core refund; not terribly for it), for something totally rebuilt and carrying a [limited] lifetime warranty, needing only the pads. The more I think about it, the more that seems like the way to go. I haven't seen anything negative about Cardone's rebuilds.

oldManTan

looks like you got your deal. just make sure they have more than one. when i was replacing my TT caliper they only had one, and i had to drive a bit to get it

t2d2

iTrader: (8)

The nice thing about AutoZone's online specials is they're always for ship-to-home. So, as long as the website shows it as in stock, it'll show up on your doorstep. No hunting around for inventory. Even better, to qualify for the specials puts you over the threshold for free shipping. However, most of their specials are for gift cards. Every now and then they run one that's a percent off ... one of those expired tonight, a mere 20 minutes before I discovered the LS calipers. I'm still working my way through the $75 gift card from the rack & pinion! So, I may wait until another percent discount special comes along.