Community Forums

scooterbob · 05-17-2014, 06:16 AM

2000 F53 ford
I have a front brake caliper that is not fully releasing and the brakes are dragging. Any ideas on repairing this , other than getting a new caliper ?

Rockwood27 · 05-17-2014, 07:20 AM

The rubber flex hose may be collapsed on the inside (outside still looks OK), which could cause the same symptoms.

Fran

mrv8outboard · 05-17-2014, 07:21 AM

You could check the slide hardware for binding and lube appropriately. I could be the caliper brackets are rusted. If is has (OEM it should) Phenolic Pistons they could have absorbed moisture from the brake fluid as well as the environment causing the to swell when heated by braking. The swelling is because the moisture in the phenolic piston is heated it tries to boil out and can not so it expands the piston. Some times once cooled they seem to work okay. This issue is most prevalent in minimally used vehicles. The brake system does not get used enough to keep the moisture build up to a minimum. Brake fluid flush to that wheel should be done as the fluid has been boiled. This done at all wheels will help. I use the NAPA Eclipse semi loaded calipers and buy better pads. You also get them loaded with pads. These are lifetime warranty. If you replace a caliper get it with the bracket as this is part of the issue, do not do caliper only. Also make sure to use the proper lube on the parts as they may have little or no lube out of the box.

Dutch Star Don · 05-17-2014, 03:17 PM

If you want a cheap fix, pull the wheels, carefully pry the brake pads away from the rotor on both sides and lube the caliper on it's slide points. "mrv8outboard" referred to an issue that was common with the older Fords. Once you lube the calipers, bleed the brake system thoroughly with synthetic brake fluid. If you can do this type of work yourself, the only hassle will be removing the tires and wheels.

Once done, check to see if you still have a drag issue. People love to replace calipers as part of a brake job, but in all of my years of doing brakes, rarely did I find a caliper that needed replacing in a modern vehicle.

exrench · 05-17-2014, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

If you want a cheap fix, pull the wheels, carefully pry the brake pads away from the rotor on both sides and lube the caliper on it's slide points. "mrv8outboard" referred to an issue that was common with the older Fords. Once you lube the calipers, bleed the brake system thoroughly with synthetic brake fluid. If you can do this type of work yourself, the only hassle will be removing the tires and wheels.

Once done, check to see if you still have a drag issue. People love to replace calipers as part of a brake job, but in all of my years of doing brakes, rarely did I find a caliper that needed replacing in a modern vehicle.

Are you saying that seized brake calipers are rare or seldom occur?

Dutch Star Don · 05-17-2014, 10:21 PM

Yes I am. I did brakes for many years and rarely replaced a caliper. If you remove the caliper, compress them and clean the exterior seals and then lube where they slide, they work fine. People are way to fast to just throw them away.

Note: I'm not talking about a 1962 Sunbeam or some other old car, but modern cars using disc brakes.

stink · 05-18-2014, 02:26 AM

I need to disagree with Don. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, it absorbs moisture from anywhere. The little vent hole in the master cyl res cap is a good place. As the weather gets cold the brake fluid cannot hold the moisture and it condenses out as water. Water is heavyer than brake fluid so it will flow to the lowest part of your brake system ie, bottom of the caliper piston bore. There the water will sit and rust the bore and corrode the chrome finish on the caliper piston. A sticking caliper can be caused by a defective brake hose and to tell if so, raise front of vehicle. Stomp on brake pedal. try to rotate front tires. If one is more difficult to turn, losen the blead screw for that caliper. If the tire spins free after losening bleed screw than the brake hose is defective. If not, and if you have the four piston calipers get two new, yup you got to replace both calipers. If you have the one piston calipers you can try to lube the caliper mounts and see if that helps but most likely with only one caliper sticking you need to replace the calipers. When I was a service manager I always insisted that all brake work done safely, especialy with a really heavy MH