Brake Caliper Assembly 8-97318678-1 8973186781 For ISUZU D-MAX 4x4 — Front Left (LH), Without Bracket, Caliper / Slave Cylinder Type Must Be Verified

The Front Left Brake Caliper Assembly with OEM references 8-97318678-1 / 8973186781 (and related references 8-97318678-0 / 8973186780) is a verified replacement brake component for the ISUZU D-MAX 4x4 (8DH platform, 2007–2012) equipped with 2.5 DiTD (4JK1-TC) and 3.0 DiTD (4JJ1-TC) diesel engines.

This is the front left (LH) brake caliper — the hydraulic clamping unit that straddles the front brake disc and converts hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder into mechanical force, driving the brake pads against the rotor to decelerate or stop the vehicle.

The caliper is confirmed as a twin-piston (two-piston) design. Turkish-market parts catalogs describe it as "FREN KALIPER TM.TK. ON (IKI PISTONLUK)", where "IKI PISTONLUK" translates to "two-piston". It is supplied without the mounting bracket ("بدون براکت" / without bracket), meaning the original bracket or a separately sourced bracket is required for installation. The caliper body is manufactured from cast iron or aluminum alloy (OE-specification construction), with a reference packaging size of 23 × 16 × 11 cm.

• Position Verified: Front Left (LH) — confirmed by Persian, Hindi, and Vietnamese supplier catalogs explicitly listing "Front LH" for 8-97318678-1 / 8973186781.
• Twin-Piston Configuration Verified: "IKI PISTONLUK" (two-piston) — confirmed by Turkish-market parts catalog listing the D-MAX 4x4 front caliper.
• Bracket Inclusion Verified: Without bracket — confirmed by Persian/Hindi catalogs ("بدون براکت" / without bracket).
• Vehicle & Engine Coverage Verified: ISUZU D-MAX I (8DH) 4x4, 2.5 DiTD 4JK1-TC (136 PS, 01.2007–06.2012) and 3.0 DiTD 4JJ1-TC — confirmed by German and Polish parts catalogs.
• Cross-Reference Density Verified: 8-97318678-1, 8-97318678-0, 8973186781, 8973186780 are consistently grouped as interchangeable/related references across multiple international supplier catalogs.
• Packaging Dimensions Verified: 23 × 16 × 11 cm — confirmed by Italian YIMI/Ecer supplier listing for the 8973186780 caliper assembly.
• Function Description Verified: The caliper's function is confirmed as converting master cylinder hydraulic pressure into mechanical force to clamp the brake pads against the disc — verified by multiple supplier descriptions.

• Brake fluid leak at the caliper body or piston seal: Visible wetness or drips around the caliper, often accompanied by a low brake fluid level — indicates a failed piston seal or corroded piston bore.
• Uneven or accelerated brake pad wear: A sticking caliper piston or seized guide pin causes one pad to wear faster than the other, or the inner pad to wear prematurely.
• Vehicle pulls to one side during braking: A seized or dragging caliper on one side applies uneven braking force, causing the vehicle to pull toward the affected side.
• Brake drag / overheating wheel: A caliper that does not release fully keeps the brake pads in contact with the disc, generating excessive heat, a burning smell, and potential wheel bearing damage.
• Spongy or long-travel brake pedal: Air entering the system through a failed caliper seal reduces hydraulic pressure and produces a soft pedal.
• Visible corrosion or pitting on the piston or caliper bore: Direct inspection during pad replacement reveals surface degradation that prevents proper sealing and piston retraction.

• Front Left only: This is the front left caliper. The front right uses a different reference (likely 8-97318679-x or 897318679x family). Do not interchange left and right — the caliper body, bleed screw location, and parking brake actuator (if integrated) may differ.
• 4x4 specific: This caliper is confirmed for D-MAX 4x4 applications. 2WD (4x2) variants may use a different caliper specification. Confirm the vehicle's drive type and VIN before ordering.
• Bracket not included: The caliper is supplied without the mounting bracket. If the original bracket is corroded or damaged, it must be ordered separately or transferred from the original unit.
• Twin-piston configuration: This is a two-piston caliper. Do not substitute a single-piston caliper — the hydraulic ratio and braking balance will be incorrect.
• Piston diameter and material must be confirmed: Public data does not specify the piston bore size or whether the caliper is cast iron or aluminum. Confirm these specifications against the original unit or supplier technical drawing before bulk commitment.

1. 1Confirm the required part first: Verify that the original caliper is the front left unit and that the vehicle is a 4x4 with twin-piston front brakes. Compare the bleed screw location and hose fitting orientation to the replacement.
2. 2Safety first: Park on level ground, engage the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts before raising the vehicle. Support the front corner securely on jack stands.
3. 3Disconnect the brake hose: Place a drain pan underneath, disconnect the brake hose from the caliper, and plug the hose immediately to prevent contamination and fluid loss.
4. 4Remove the caliper: Remove the mounting bolts (or slide pins, depending on configuration) securing the caliper to the bracket. Support the caliper weight to avoid stressing the hose.
5. 5Inspect the bracket and slide pins: With the caliper removed, inspect the mounting bracket and slide pins for wear, corrosion, or elongation. Replace if damaged — a worn bracket will cause uneven pad wear and caliper drag.
6. 6Install the new caliper: Position the 8-97318678-1 caliper onto the bracket. Install the mounting bolts or slide pins and torque to the workshop manual specification. Do not over-torque — the caliper body can distort.
7. 7Reconnect the brake hose: Connect the hose to the caliper and tighten the banjo bolt or flare nut to specification. Use new copper washers where applicable.
8. 8Bleed the brake system: Fill the reservoir with DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid and bleed the front circuit until clear, bubble-free fluid flows from the caliper bleeder screw.
9. 9Check for leaks and pedal feel: Pump the brake pedal to seat the pads and check for leaks at the hose connection and bleeder screw. The pedal should be firm and should not sink under sustained pressure.
10. 10Road test: Test drive at low speed, checking for even braking, no pull, and absence of drag or abnormal noise before returning the vehicle to service.

• Inspect the caliper and brake pads at every service or every 20,000–30,000 km — check for leaks, piston seizure, and even pad wear.
• Lubricate the slide pins with high-temperature brake grease at every pad replacement — dry or corroded pins are a leading cause of caliper drag.
• Replace the brake fluid every 2 years or according to the ISUZU schedule — degraded fluid accelerates caliper piston seal wear.
• Inspect the caliper dust boots for cracks or tears — a compromised boot allows water and dirt to enter the piston bore, causing corrosion and leakage.

• Standard packing: Neutral carton or wooden case; customer-branded packaging available. Packaging size reference: 23 × 16 × 11 cm.
• Package contents: 1 × Front Left Brake Caliper Assembly (without bracket). Brake pads, mounting bracket, slide pins, and brake hose are not included unless explicitly stated — confirm exact package contents at inquiry.
• Set options: Caliper only (standard) / caliper + bracket kit (subject to separate bracket availability) — specify at inquiry.
• Suitable for: ISUZU D-MAX brake system repair shops, 4x4 specialists, pickup fleet maintenance departments, spare parts distributors, and export wholesalers serving Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
• Related parts available: Front right caliper (different reference), brake pads, brake discs, caliper repair kits, slide pins, and brake fluid for the D-MAX 4x4 platform.