Shopping for a clutch master cylinder- what brand

[Dionk]

Seeking opinions.  After searching the web a bit I see that there are several manufactures of clutch master cylinders out there.  I need to buy one for the project I’m working on.  

 

Brands ive seen for sale include

fte

fag

centric

sacks

Ams automotive

beck arnley

 

Is there a recommended manufacturer to use?

[TobyB]

FAG.

 

Sometimes Beck- Arnley is reboxed FAG for cheaper.  But sometimes not.

t

 

[Jimmy]

38 minutes ago, Dionk said:

Seeking opinions.  After searching the web a bit I see that there are several manufactures of clutch master cylinders out there.  I need to buy one for the project I’m working on.  

 

Brands ive seen for sale include

fte

fag

centric

sacks

Ams automotive

beck arnley

 

Is there a recommended manufacturer to use?

 

Fte is owned by Valeo and should be considered "OEM" quality. Not premium, but better than any run of the mill house brand junk you'd find at a local parts store if our cars were 30 years newer.

 

Fag is good, owned by Schaeffler, known for quality bearings along with their other brand INA. 

 

Never heard of Centric

 

Is it really "Sacks" and not "Sachs?" If the former, I have no idea, if the latter, a well-known OEM for all kinds of chassis parts. Probably comparable to Fte.

 

Never heard of AMS

 

Beck-Arnely seems to be a supplier name that just re-boxes other peoples stuff rather than making anything of their own. They probably weren't always that way.

 

I've seen good stuff from them, and some real junk. Not necessarily different than similar items readily available from the actual manufacturers themselves, just the same things by a different name. Without being familiar with whose MC they're selling, I wouldn't necessarily recommend them.

[Dionk]

4 hours ago, Jimmy said:

Is it really "Sacks" and not "Sachs?" If the former, I have no idea, if the latter, a well-known OEM for all kinds of chassis parts. Probably comparable to Fte.

Yeah. Sachs. My typo.  

 

Thanks for the input.  

 

Im out to avoid buying an MC that’s going to leak and start rusting my car away.

[TobyB]

The last Sacks stuff I bought said, loud and proud, "Made in China" on it.

But cost as much as the German- made FAG I actually used.

I think you may have gotten the spelling right the first time.

 

Centric=Chinese.  The 'Premium' line is some of the best that China has to offer, though, and is pretty good. 

 

AMS runs movie theaters, right?  Or is that AMC, of Pacer and Gremlin fame?

 

t

 

[Dick R]

I just installed an FTE clutch master cylinder a few weeks ago.  Went in without difficulty, works fine, and it was made in Germany.  Cost $100. 

[Chris_B]

Centric is a major rebuilder and supplier of automotive hydraulic stuff. I recently bought a Centric rebuilt Tii brake master cylinder from IE, and what I received was an ATE OE part. I took it apart before installation and it was very clean, and works very well... so far.

[TobyB]

Yes- Centric rebuilds parts with seals of non- OE origin.  All the kits I've bought

from them separately say Made in China on them.  I've never used their rebuilt 

parts- do they give a country of origin?

 

t

 

[conkitchen]

On 12/19/2018 at 11:59 PM, TobyB said:

FAG.

 

Sometimes Beck- Arnley is reboxed FAG for cheaper.  But sometimes not.

t

 

Are you calling Beck or Arnley a FAG? 

Edited December 21, 2018 by conkitchen

[Chris_B]

Not on the master cyl. I bought. However, it was an Ate OE body, so not sure whether they are required to provide a country of origin for the innards.

[Chris_B]

I wonder if anyone in the US rebuilds brake parts with seals from the Fatherland.

[Rosheee]

I’ve recently inserted a FAG. works great. 

[Chris_B]

Hey, we don't care about your personal life.

[conkitchen]

13 minutes ago, Rosheee said:

I’ve recently inserted a FAG. works great. 

Wasn't gonna touch this one, cause, well ya know. 

[John_in_VA]

White Post Restorations in VA has been offering rebuilding services for decades: https://whitepost.com/brake-sleeving-rebuilding-services/