08/20/2026
A quick VanderSpa BBK quality-control update:
One of the realities of building certain solutions using professionally remanufactured automotive components is that two matching replacement assemblies can originate from different remanufacturing batches or assembly processes before they ever reach us.
We recently had reason to take a closer look at this possibility with the front calipers we provide in our Essential Big Brake Kit.
While the left and right calipers we utilize are correct for the OEM application and are professionally remanufactured by an established company in the aftermarket braking industry, we've recognized that WE should be doing more than simply verifying external condition and completeness before they leave VanderSpa.
Going forward, we're adding additional inspection steps intended to identify subcomponent inconsistencies between otherwise matched caliper pairs before they're incorporated into one of our kits.
That's clearly our responsibility.
If a component doesn't meet our expectations under this enhanced inspection, it doesn't need to become our customer's problem. We'll deal with it before the kit leaves the shop.
The Essential BBK was developed to give Vanderhall owners a substantial braking-modulation upgrade using the same four-piston caliper architecture found in factory-equipped GTS performance applications—at an appreciably lower investment than required to assemble an equivalent combination of parts using factory-sourced components. It combines professionally remanufactured four-piston front calipers with quality ceramic brake pads and THREE new matching performance rotors.
"Remanufactured" does not mean defective, inappropriate, or simply “used.” These ARE professionally processed replacement brake caliper assemblies, but on closer inspection, we've identified the possibility that some internal component characteristics may vary between otherwise matching handed calipers from the same supplier.
That means supplier-level consistency is something we need to pay more attention to. Cost-conscious does not have to mean inconsistent.
We're proud of the number of these systems we've put into service successfully, but past success isn't an excuse to stop improving the process.
Better inspection. Better consistency. Better ownership experience.
That's the standard we're applying going forward.
Parts are available everywhere. Judgment isn't.
Keep the Sticky Side Stuck!
Troy — VanderSpa
