Cylinders · Servos · Calipers
We remanufacture brake and clutch cylinders, servos and calipers for older vehicles. Your own unit is bored out, sleeved in stainless steel, rebuilt and refinished, then sent back ready to fit.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 01284 750729
From Our Bench
Two from our bench. The casting that goes back is the one that came in: bored out, sleeved in stainless steel, rebuilt and refinished, with its original markings intact.
Sleeved in stainless steel to its original bore size, rebuilt with new seals and refinished in black.
Finish: Black Powder Coat
Seized and pitted when it arrived. Bored out, sleeved, rebuilt with a new boot and bleed nipple, in a natural finish.
Finish: Natural
Tell us on the send-in sheet, or ask us what your car had from new.
Why Stainless Steel
Brake fluid soaks up moisture over time, through the hoses and the reservoir. Left standing, that moisture works on the cast iron or aluminium bore and pits it, and a pitted bore wears out new seals, so the leak comes back. We take the pitting out and line the bore with stainless steel.
Resleeving hydraulic cylinders is routine in Australia, where this process was devised. Few workshops in the UK have the equipment to do it.
What We Do
Send us the part you have, and we’ll remanufacture it. Or tell us what you need, and we’ll trace it.
Resleeved in stainless steel to the original bore and rebuilt with new seals.
Send a CylinderResleeved and rebuilt to the same standard as our brake cylinders.
Send a Clutch CylinderResleeved and fully remanufactured, then returned in a factory finish.
Send a ServoRebuilt with new pistons and rubber parts. Dunlop caliper pods resleeved.
Send a CaliperWhat We Work On
If it’s older and it has hydraulic brakes, ask us. Alongside classic cars, we remanufacture and supply parts for all of these.
ACAlfa RomeoAston MartinAustinBedfordBentleyBMWDodgeFerrariFordHillmanJaguarJensenLand RoverLotusMercedes-BenzMGMorganPorscheRenaultRolls-RoyceRoverSaabTriumphTVRVauxhallVolkswagenVolvo
Not on the list? That’s normal. Send us the part number or a photo and we’ll tell you what we can do. Ask About Yours
What Owners Say
Letters from owners, as published on our website. On Google, Past Parts is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 38 reviews (October 2026). Read the Google Reviews (opens in a new tab)
1968 Vauxhall Ventora
“Please convey my heartfelt thanks to all your staff for this simply superb service you offer.”
“It is truly an amazing result; the attention to detail is also incredible.”
“Had I known of Past Parts, the van would only have been off the road for just over a week.”
“Cylinder arrived safely as promised and looks as good as new … Thank you for your expertise in helping ‘Toffo’ come back to life.”
Laying It Up for Winter?
Winter is the quiet season for most classics, which makes it the right time to send brake parts in, well ahead of Drive It Day on Sunday 25 April 2027. About Drive It Day (opens in a new tab)
Glycol brake fluid soaks up moisture through the hoses and reservoir, so makers set changes by time, not miles. Hella says every two years for DOT 4. ATE says every year for vehicles built before 1990.
Classic insurer Footman James warns that brakes can still seize in storage, especially drum brakes. If a car pulls to one side in spring, a wheel cylinder or caliper may have seized.
Vehicles over 40 can skip the MOT, but they must still be roadworthy, and the law says every part of the braking system must be kept in good and efficient working order.
Source: GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Not sure what needs doing? Call 01284 750729 and talk it through.
How It Works
Fill in the send-in sheet and we’ll come back to you with a price before any work starts. You’ll get a reference to put in the box with your part.
Use the send-in sheet or call us. Part numbers and photos help.
We check the details and agree the price with you before anything is posted.
Remove pads from calipers and pipes from cylinders, add your reference and post it to us.
Remanufactured, finished as you asked and sent back ready to fit. If we find anything unexpected, we call you first.
Post Parts To
Past PartsQuestions first? Call 01284 750729
Mon to Thu 8.30am to 5pm, Fri 8.30am to 4pm
About Past Parts
Past Parts has remanufactured and supplied brake and clutch hydraulics for older vehicles since 1988. We’re a small team with decades of experience in the automotive component industry, and parts reach us from across the UK and Europe.
Over the years we’ve built a database of part number information for older vehicles. It lets us cross-check and trace any component maker’s reference, and find an alternative when the original is long gone.
Helping recreate moving history.
FAQs
Can’t see yours? Call 01284 750729 or email restore@pastparts.co.uk.
We bore out the worn cylinder, fit a stainless-steel sleeve and finish it back to the original bore size. The unit then takes the correct seals and piston, and the stainless bore resists the corrosion that pits cast iron and aluminium.
Yes. When you send a unit in for remanufacturing, that casting is the one we return, with its original markings. If your vehicle is off the road and you need a part sooner, call us and ask what we can supply.
It depends on the part and what it needs. Send us the details on the send-in sheet or call, and we’ll give you a price before any work starts.
It depends on the part and how busy the workshop is, so we’ll give you a time when we confirm the price. If your vehicle is off the road, tell us.
Cylinders and calipers can be natural (the original cast iron or aluminium look), black powder coat, bright zinc and passivate in silver, or yellow gold zinc. Servos come back in a factory finish. If you’re not sure what your vehicle had from new, choose “Advise Me” and we’ll help.
Remove brake pads from calipers and pipes from cylinders first, because stripping them here adds to the cost. Wrap each part, protect any threads, and put your name and reference in the box. Post it to Past Parts, Unit 4 Chase Road, Northern Way Industrial Estate, Bury St Edmunds IP32 6NT.
Yes. We supply cylinders, servos, calipers, repair kits, hoses, pads and shoes, clutch parts and water pumps for older vehicles, and trace part numbers through our database.
Yes. As well as cars, we work on parts for classic motorcycles, vans and campers, trucks and buses, tractors and plant, forklift trucks and military vehicles, tanks included.
Yes. Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago can be exempt from the MOT if they haven’t been substantially changed in the last 30 years, but you must still keep them roadworthy. The law says every part of the braking system must be kept in good and efficient working order, and using a vehicle in a dangerous condition can mean a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points. GOV.UK: historic vehicles (opens in a new tab).
Brake makers set changes by time as well as miles, because glycol fluid absorbs moisture through the hoses and reservoir. Hella recommends every two years for DOT 4, and ATE says once a year for vehicles built before 1990. Your vehicle maker’s own guidance comes first. Hella: brake fluid (opens in a new tab).
Mon to Thu 8.30am to 5pm, Fri 8.30am to 4pm
