Brake Calliper - fit either side?

[GICarey]

Hi Folks,

RE my thread in the "Wanted" section, have received a replacement from brake calliper from an eBay seller (having previously received two rear callipers). The garage called to tell me that "he's now sent us a front passenger side calliper." and contacting the seller solicited this response.

"right this is not a joke it doesnt matter with the calipers they are universal and can fit either side this is a fact and i have done this myself so you have had the correct part you literall turn it "

Ignoring the tone of the response (and previous similarly penned responses from the seller, some including obscenities - not aimed at me), my simple question to you technicl bongonauts then is: is this true? Should my garage simply be able to reverse the calliper they've received and fit to the drivers side? or is the seller mistaken?

Many thanks!

Gavin.

[francophile1947]

Sounds like rubbish to me, although I've never had reason to look at a Bongo calliper. All other vehicles I've worked on are certainly not reversible.

[rwill19050]

Sounds like rubbish to me, although I've never had reason to look at a Bongo caliper. All other vehicles I've worked on are certainly not reversible.

The Bongo Friendee Service Manual (available from Bongo Shop (Ian)), page 257, shows "Caliper (Front)"
Nothing about being 'handed' and looking at it I can't see why you can't 'reverse' it.
I could be talking out of my rear end, but I tend to go with the manual.

Watch this space as I get proved wrong

[missfixit70]

Sounds like rubbish to me, although I've never had reason to look at a Bongo caliper. All other vehicles I've worked on are certainly not reversible.

The Bongo Friendee Service Manual (available from Bongo Shop (Ian)), page 257, shows "Caliper (Front)"
Nothing about being 'handed' and looking at it I can't see why you can't 'reverse' it.
I could be talking out of my rear end, but I tend to go with the manual.

Watch this space as I get proved wrong

I'd tend to agree, not sure exactly where the hose & bleed nipple are, but I reckon they'd be interchangeable?

http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html

http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html

[mikexgough]

In Japan the S/H calipers are marked http://page21.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j72228217 & http://page21.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/j72228221 RF & LF ....same for the rears.....RR & LR... Just an observation......

Or..........
http://page3.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c233003603

http://page3.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c233003601

[g8dhe]

I'm no expert on this at all but they do have different references on the Lush projects site that Kirsty referred to and they appear twice in the parts list with L and R designators;
CALIPER(R),PADLESS-FR
S1Z13398Z 3398Z CALIPER(R),PADLESS-FR

&

CALIPER(L),PADLESS-FR
S1Z13399Z 3399Z CALIPER(L),PADLESS-FR

[missfixit70]

Well spotted that man , missed that bit Looks like they are different then, although from looking at Mikex's links, the casting is the same but turned upside down, just different holes/connections during manufacture. It doesn't look like the hose mounting is easily swappable to me.

[GICarey]

Thanks folks, so in summary, seller is incorrect. I shall inform him fortwith and see if he's able to get it right fourth time around!

[mister munkey]

Just email him a link to this thread, it all seems perfectly self explanatory . . .

Life is, after all - a learning curve.

[mikexgough]

This might help........


From a later Bongo but same Jap auction site....shows the calipers reasonably clearly

[GICarey]

Thanks All,

Well, seller appears unwilling to believe that the front callipers are different, and to send out the correct item, so I have requested a full refund, plus return postage costs for the numerous incorrect callipers sent out to me, and will obtain from Bell Hill or someone who knows something about Bongos. Fingers crossed he sees sense and accepts, and that I don't need to go through the whole paypal case hassle (been there before. It works, but it's slowww...)

Looking forward to an end to this sorry state of affairs and getting the Bongo back on the road, feels like a missing limb having not had it for a couple of weeks now!

Should have accepted one of the kind offers from folks here on the forums from the get-go. Laughably it was only speed of getting it all back on the road again which took me to eBay in the first place.

Gav.

[rwill19050]

This might help........


From a later Bongo but same Jap auction site....shows the calipers reasonably clearly

As is obvious looking at your picture, they are identical.
The difference being the direction of the pipe.
On the caliper housing there are two small indentations for locating the 'banjo' type end piece to stop the pipe 'rotating'.
(The pipe is not part of the caliper)
As I said earlier, the Bongo Service Manual shows only one caliper, so it must be able to be used either side, if not then surely they would show both units.
Gavin, has the garage actually tried to fit it, or are they just looking at the position of the pipe on the one sent to them
Am I the only one to own the service manual

[the janner vanner]

I have a set of calipers that are in the shed which were removed when I had a set resprayed and I can tell you for sure that they are different.