just recieved a pair of replacement front brake calipers for late air cooled beetle from a major VW shop in Oz.
They were advertised as ATE with a clear photo of the ATE box and a set of brake pads.
What got me suspicious is that the pads dont fit in the caliper??. they are about 0.5 mm too wide and jam when being inserted in the slot in the caliper, but only on one side of the caliper, but rubbing and too tight on the other side. So the pads are too wide and/or the caliper is assymetrical.
I checked the pads and I am convinced they are completely bogus and no doubt made in China. The box is just the right size for a set of 2-pin square pads, but the part numbers, fitment list, and bar code are for late model VW and Seat disc pads, which are about twice the physical size. So the lazy brake counterfeiters have just latched onto a legit VW brake part number and started making pads and printing boxes to put them in. CHALLENGER brand, part number 607032 and no doubt containing asbestos.
As for the ATE calipers, ATE Global have been advertising on the web that since 2008 that all their products now come with holograms and other anti-fake measures such as serial numbers on all product packaging. bUT, surprise surprise no such stuff on the packaging for this set. I remember getting all that on the last set I bought but not this time. These caliper boxes indicate Brazil origins.
Question - can anyone say with absolute certainty that they have recently handled genuine ATE caliper boxes that dont have holograms etc.
.
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probably counterfeit. I am seeing counterfeit everything these days.
things like.
fuel pumps, relays, EEPROMs, regulators, injectors, alternators, starter motors, sensors, engine components, body panels.
you name it, its counterfeit
A new one I learned about yesterday at work, 3M reflective material for road signs. One of the major road authorities got screwed with counterfeit reflective materials and very elaborately faked as being 3M material, which the genuine is backed with 10 year warranty. A lot of angry people and big money involved.
its amazing what gets china copied these days. 🤪
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
and it amazing that nothing can be done, between the "but they make everything there anyway" argument and the pollies not wanting to rock any boats
all ATE products have the letters ATE cast or stamped on them
so return for a refund
You have to seriously wonder about the after market parts being legal for use on the road, as none of them have been complied, make a complaint to consumer affairs, if you return them you will just get some excuse and then when you return them they will just be onsold to some other sucker, you are better off getting a second hand set and putting a kit in them.
Do they have "for off road use only" stamped on the label somewhere
Futue te ipsum!!!
Bizarre wrote:Do they have "for off road use only" stamped on the label somewhere
no. And the Calipers appear to have all the correct stampings on them but that means nothing either.
I suspose I can live with the calipers as if the chinese pirate scumbags have copied a structure that was properly designed it just comes down to the quality of the metal. Which will be inferior, but there's plenty of meat.
But what ticks me is its the first time I purchased anything from this guy for several years, so this was just a test, as he had done some blatant product substitution before. Anyway.. stupid me.
But those brake pads are so bogus.
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But can you live with the fact you paid the genuine price for inferior product.
Also, maybe the supplier isn't aware that they're fake....Have you let him/her know
Stanley wrote:...Also, maybe the supplier isn't aware that they're fake....Have you let him/her know
I have no doubt the guy knows very well what he is palming off to the punters.. he's the one that buys it in the first place!. I've had to challenge him before. He pleads innocent, offers to pay up real quick, because the other 99 customers didnt query it. So he's still in front.
So can anyone say with absolute certainty that they have recently handled genuine ATE caliper boxes that dont have holograms etc. ?
Why do you not just talk to who you purchased the product from? I do not know of any retailer that opens every box to measure the contents. You are making a lot of assumptions!
Make the supplier aware of your dissatisfaction. Is it the calliper or the pad that is at fault. What are you bolting the calliper to? Is that genuine or aftermarket.
I would be asking more questions before coming to a conclusion. Dave
yeah make sure its not the pads. heaps and heaps of crap pads out there. Even well know brands aren't that good like people say, classic example Bendix, they fit well but they don't stop well.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
I thought it was reasonably clear. the pads are clearly bogus. I have concluded that much.
As well, I would like to think there is a chance the calipers are genuine ATE Brazil.
The box that the ATE calipers came in does not include details that ATE Global state should have been on their packaging since 2008, and a detail I have seen myself.
However I am open to the possibility that ATE Brazil do not put the security measures on their boxes, which is why I provided the background to the original question. So I am asking questions, but asking independent people first, via this forum.
Selling dodgy brake components is a serious issue, especially pads that will jam in the caliper. These forums help alert people to the ongoing issues with their hobby, or business.
Are you here to contribute to the solution? or what?
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I had A bug once where the pads didnt fit. I think If I rememmber it turned out it had type 3 disc that were a bit thicker ????
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
Uber Kafer wrote:I thought it was reasonably clear. the pads are clearly bogus. I have concluded that much.
As well, I would like to think there is a chance the calipers are genuine ATE Brazil.
The box that the ATE calipers came in does not include details that ATE Global state should have been on their packaging since 2008, and a detail I have seen myself.
However I am open to the possibility that ATE Brazil do not put the security measures on their boxes, which is why I provided the background to the original question. So I am asking questions, but asking independent people first, via this forum.
Selling dodgy brake components is a serious issue, especially pads that will jam in the caliper. These forums help alert people to the ongoing issues with their hobby, or business.
Are you here to contribute to the solution? or what?
.
Just get QFM pads and be done, bin the rest and get good use calipers and use genuine rebuild kit.
Thats all the help I can offer.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
Don't waste your time finding solutions until you know what the problem is. I personally would have spoken to the supplier first. I thought I was helping! Happy to keep quiet if you prefer.
Perhaps I was just confused by the title...Dave
vlad01 wrote:Just get QFM pads and be done, bin the rest and get good use calipers and use genuine rebuild kit.
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Done, bogus pads binned, got some RDA ones sent down from Perth, and I will run with the ATE ? calipers for now.
Got a good set of used Girling calipers on the bench, just got to find an overhaul kit and they will be my preference. Moving on.
I bought some ATE calipers about 3-4 years ago from a supplier whom I trust and have done business with for years. They are made in Brazil and don't have holograms on the boxes. I also bought a master cylinder which is marked on the box as being made in Germany. I opted for the non brake pad version at the time as I wanted to use a particular brand of pad. All the components work fine and as already stated, I trust the supplier. Doesn't answer your question though
Cheers......wayne
Uber Kafer wrote:vlad01 wrote:Just get QFM pads and be done, bin the rest and get good use calipers and use genuine rebuild kit.
.
Done, bogus pads binned, got some RDA ones sent down from Perth, and I will run with the ATE ? calipers for now.
Got a good set of used Girling calipers on the bench, just got to find an overhaul kit and they will be my preference. Moving on.
I have Girling calipers on my bug. I had to go to the UK to get overhaul kits. I think the brand was Bigredd. I found a supplier via ebay.
hulbyw wrote:I bought some ATE calipers about 3-4 years ago from a supplier whom I trust and have done business with for years. They are made in Brazil and don't have holograms on the boxes. ..... Doesn't answer your question though
Cheers......wayne
It does actually. thanks.
cam070 wrote:I have Girling calipers on my bug. I had to go to the UK to get overhaul kits. I think the brand was Bigredd. I found a supplier via ebay.
thanks, I was beginning to suspect I would have to buy from UK. And I recall seeing Bigredd advertising them.. cheers.
