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.

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

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

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.

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 ????

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

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