Read this from an Australian 208GTi 270 forum:
"FWIW, I’ve not seen this issue raised by any Australian members...and especially by any that live in Australia’s hot, dry inland. [emoji6]
The problem is a product of humidity, and constant damp roads that are gritted and salted in winter months to mitigate icing. The alloys used in the Alcon brake pistons react corrosively to this; pistons jamming in turn leads to uneven rotor wear, hence you see the reports of people replacing calipers and rotors at very low mileage."
Since changing discs and calipers my car has not seen salt the pistons are fine and have been pushed out to look at them etc and show no corrosion damage or wear......obviously I keep tabs on this as I still have the Warranty from Peugeot so will want them replaced if they fail if that's after the Warranty I expires I will stick the SS pistons in them. It's a shame Alcon didnt do this from the off...but no real huge issue...nor are the discs imo...consumable parts which can be bought cheaper than other performance brakes on other similar cars...guess it's the Peugeot equals should be cheap then and last forever mentality..
Been digging apparently the Alcon calipers fitted to the R are PS branded Alcon Car98 calipers...fitted as we know to a fair few performance cars Porsche 718 various 911's think Jag' s Lexus etc...May help with cost of buying Alcon seal/piston kits....very highly rated brakes...except obviously until when reviewed on a Peugeot by some journalist's articles I've read oh and Jay Emm....lol.
I really don't get the continual brake disc/caliper hoo harr for the R they are consumable parts used in many marques/motorsport applications and when they wear out etc cost ££s to replace.
I think Australia only got a handful of R, but their climate will help. We won't here too many issues from them. I don't think there are many R owners on this forum combined.
The chrome coating appears to fail just though use. I think it breaks up through force leaving mild steel pistons exposed. The chrome coating delaminates from the mild steel pistons and starts to affect the function. The brakes continue to deteriorate until they will seize fully.
If the pistons are sticking they will trail on the disc and cause excessive wear.
It is a big issue. An issue that shouldn't be happening. Alcon should have a better design. Most garages, and especially main dealers, won't get involved with caliper rebuilds. They will be telling the customer they require new calipers. If they are too badly corroded you won't get the pistons out and need new calipers.
If you're faced with a bill for calipers, discs, pads and labour at garage prices the bill is extortionate. I think it is fair and required to point this out to potential buyers. They don't realise the issue or potential costs involved.
There's a few people on here that say the R is a high cost car to run. Outside the brakes I think most things are quite normal for pricing for a performance car.
I didn't watch the Jay review, but he could have been driving a car that the pistons were sticking. That's a very likely possibility if the brakes were not performing.
