97 rear calipers?

[kron300]

Hello. I'm new to the board, I wanted to know if anyone had a problem w/ rear calipers sticking, especially right rear?I have had them replaced 3 times in the 30k miles I've owned the 97

 

[BradE.]

No problem on mine. I have over 80K miles and still on factory calipers. Are you lubing the slide pins when you install them?

 

[james t]

99% of the time, the shop isnt lubing the caliper bolts. either that, or the first set of bolts were worn down and re-used. a sticking caliper can cause a multitude of brake issues. carry it to someone else.

 

[410Fortune]

I would be more suspect of the parking brake shoes.........


Things that cause the rear caliper to stick:
No/dry lube on the slide bolts
Bad/wrong master cylinder
malfunction in ABS proportioning

When you say sticking what do you mean?

 

[james t]

Originally posted by 410Fortune
I would be more suspect of the parking brake shoes.........

i would agree, however; i dont think that would be the case considering the shop has had them off 3 times in the last 30k miles. a possibility, but what kind of shop is gonna beat off a rotor that has a stuck p-brake and them just re-install? that would be a problem that even a novice could see... if that is the case, stop using that shop.

 

[BradE.]

I would agree with that, if they didn't notice a stuck parking brake after 3 times they are a pretty sad shop.

I would inspect the slide pins for proper grease, gauling and they could be over torquing them. Some places love to install things with impact guns and that's a no no on these pins. If they show any signs of damage replace them. Lube the pins with a brake caplier grease. I use Sil-Glyde from NAPA and it works great.

 

[410Fortune]

Who says they ever took the rotor off?

Those calipers are $12 at Autozone with a lifetime warranty.........dont let this shop over charge you.......

Also I would make sure they are using premium carbon metallic pads........

Look at the parking brake cables, make sure they are not being stressed or too taught......

I assume they have bled the system each time they re-do the caliper so the brake fluid itself should be okay.......

 

[BradE.]

If the calipers keep sticking I would say there is a good chance they totally destroyed the rotor in 30K miles.

 

[james t]

Originally posted by 410Fortune
Who says they ever took the rotor off?

ok, im just making assumptions here, but if a caliper sticks, and more than likely ruins a pad (or causes any kind of problem making the owner take it to a shop) i would ASSUME the shop removed the rotor to check for warping, runout, or any other issue. if i took a vehicle to a brake shop with a stuck caliper, i would be really pissed if all they did was swap out the caliper and bleed it. checking the rotor spec. thickness and runout is very basic. i would never do a "caliper slap" without at least checking the rotor. i would assume ANY brake shop would do the same...

 

[410Fortune]

You said assume like 6 times.

This is whY i do my own brakes, got burned FAR too many times when I didnt know better.......

Could be all kinds of stuff, could be gear lube leaking from axle seal, could be warped rotor, could be cheap pads, the slide pins could be all *****ed up, or the master cylinder/abs system could be at fault. If all teh brake hardware checks out then they need to do a pressure test at all fours to make sure the master is sending the correct proportioning.........

 

[Opera House]

Maybe the brakes.....

are the only thing holding the axel in. Could be a problem with the axel bearing or retainer allowing too much play. Just thought I'd get wild here. I just did the E brake on my 97 which delaminated with the little pieces grinding in the bottom. I also don't trust repair work to others. The last guy installed the rear rotor brake pads with the notches facing opposite directions on each side so the caliper was still locked in when the bolts were pulled. So, has this had three sets of brakes or thee calipers in 30K.

 

[CBoug76]

I have not had a problem with mine!

But I have had to replace a Front Caliper Bolt, due to it getting stuck in the threaded part and breaking when I took it off. KEEP the Lubed!

No they are not the only thing keeping the Axle in, the Axle has "c" clips in the Pumpkin holding them in place.

 

[kron300]

thanks guys ,Ill do the rear shoes.

Yes, I've used, Sil-glyde. I only use top of the line parts (Bendix)on my any of my (own) vehiles. The shop I used last time is is unquestionable. Though I didnt (cant remember) doing the rear parking brake shoes.This time I'll use them along w/ suv pads.installed on the loaded calipers. Though I'm not a mechanic, I am an auto parts jobber so 'throwing "parts at something is easy to do. I just inheireted this truck 2 weeks ago when the wife bought a new van, so i'm still tring to work out the kinks. I wonder if this problem has anything to do w/ the two others, I JUST found out about. The trucks ABS pump activates under 10 mph. The transfer case seems to lock in on dry pavement. Yes I've read the other threads concering these problems, I've alerted the shop whom I'm using now,printed them out and passed on a copy to them today, but any other info is GREATLY appricated.

 

[410Fortune]

You still didnt say anything about what you mean by "they are sticking"
When do they "stick"?
How do you know its the rear?

 

[kron300]

The right rear friction is worn out , so I use the word sticking, lack of a better term, I guess I could say that they are "hanging up"? My wife has not been the best at maintaing a vehile. She uses quick lube places to do an oil change. So the only time it gets checked out is when I would take it to a shop. The three times I did including right after I purchased her the truck about 18 months ago, we took it to a shop they are the first ones who noticed it needed a right rear caliper. they fixed it,(2 loaded calipers, guide pins, rotors, all top quality parts.) I submitted the bill to the dealer who I purchchased it from. I had to threaten the dealer(Carmax) w/ a call to the state police to have the truck reinspected 22 days pased since state inspection. They paid for it. But the last two times the same problem, yes I'm possitive the first and third time the calipers were lubed.

 

[410Fortune]

well if the pass rear is wearing out in 3 months thenit is a problem with the pressure being sent to the caliper, not the caliper itself, since it has been replaced 3 times.

You need to have a pressure test done on all 4's to get a feel for whats going on.

 

[james t]

Originally posted by 410Fortune
You need to have a pressure test done on all 4's to get a feel for whats going on.

i agree. for some reason (could be several) that brake is getting way more pressure than the others.