Front brake caliper sticking

[sethmorgan]

2002 XLT, ~110,000 miles. Replaced the front pads and rotors and noticed that the inside pad on the driver's side (the pad against the pistons) was worn way more than the other pads. In fact, this is what caused me to replace all 4 pads. I am thinking that this caliper is sticking, but how does one unstick it? Can I take it apart and lube it up?

 

[1tufgt]

You will want to make sure the floating pins (where the caliper bolts to) are able to move back and forth on the bracket.

If they are seized up then that is your problem and will need to get new caliper brackets.

 

[EasyRhino]

This should not be a difficult item to fix.

Pull the wheel and remove the new brake pads.

Exercise the caliper in its brackets without the pads to see how tight it is.

Clean up the contact surfaces on which the caliper slides, using a wire brush. If a good clean up does not free it up, carefully file down at the slider contact points - do not take off lots of metal and avoid changing the plane of the contact surface.

Then apply purpose made brake caliper slide lube and test again.

A clean up and lube usually fixes it. If not, you may have bigger problems (contact damage, bent parts, etc.)

 

[sethmorgan]

Guys, thanks for the tips. I'll try them out as soon as I can get my other problems figured out.