Frozen caliper

[94_XLT]

Ok so my front right caliper is frozen how can i fix it?

its a 1994 XLT 4 door

 

[Willard]

It will probably either be the caliper or the hose. Look at the hose, if it looks bad at all or is extremely soft replace it. If that doesn't fix it or the hose looks in good shape replace the caliper.

If it was me I would just replace both. Both items are less than $20 and cheap insurance.

 

[cogs]

i'd replace the caliper, because the piston probably's stuck. i'm about to change over to semi-metallic pads, as i'm still having trouble with pulsation, even after caliper/hose replacement. let me know how your brakes are going, as i have a 94 sport

 

[Explodr94]

To fix a caliper the easiest way is with compressed air and a block of wood. After you remove the caliper, put compressed air through the bleeder with the piston aimed at the wood, it comes out pretty quickly. Inspect the caliper bore for corrosion and pitting, if there is corrosion and/or pitting; time to buy a new caliper. Also, inspect the the piston for the aforementioned corrosion or pitting. If all looks good, replace the seal and insert the piston. Then replace the dust seal and re-install. The bleed it until the air is gone. It's not hard and cheaper than a new caliper. I would also replace the bleeder screw while it's out.

 

[94_XLT]

Just some aditional info...brake line sprung a leak something like 2 years ago so it got replaced. I will lift the truck up in hopefully the next couple of weeks and take a good look though....but lets just say all the parts are less then 2 years old (I think the whole brake system was redone but cant swear on it) what would cause this to happen?

 

[Explodr94]

When you get the caliper off the vehicle, inspect it. It could be many things. My experience with frozen calipers is that the caliper pins get sticky and the caliper won't slide correctly. This causes heat and heat causes malfunctions. Always make sure you clean the pins in brake cleaner and use anti-sieze when re-installing. Just my two cents.

 

[mikeinri]

Is this a daily driver? Is it parked over dirt/grass?

Sometimes, when vehicles sit unused, especially on bare ground or grass, stuff like this happens (seals dry rot, rust takes over, etc.).

Mike

 

[marragtop]

Keep in mind that the flex can collapse from the inside so it may look OK externally. Take the hose off the caliper and if you still cannot work the piston, then repalce the caliper.

 

[fixxxer]

Rebuilt calipers for a 1st gen are very inexpensive, less that $20 each with a core at most auto-parts places. I got remanufactured calipers for mine 2 years ago, made a world of difference in braking and they only cost me $18 each with core return. Making sure the slide pins are clean and in good shape is critical to proper operation. You can buy caliper slide pin grease or you can use anti-seize compound on them but make sure the pins and the notches in the calipers where the pins slide are free from dirt and burrs, I take mine off and clean/relube them every time I rotate my tires, takes maybe 10 extra minutes to do both sides.

 

[94_XLT]

yeah its a DD. normaly does about 200-400 miles a week depending on if its going to maryland that week or not but yeah it gets enough driving for it not to be stuck from not being used...does anyone have instructions on how to fix it? like a photo guide or something so i can give it a shot...what I have noticed though is it only gets stuck when someone hits the brakes hard and usually the next day the brakes are fine again....any clue why it keeps unsticking

 

[marragtop]

Since it's your DD and the problem is sporatic, I would just go ahead and replace the caliper and the flex line. Hit the connection between the flex line and the metal line with PB Blaster and let it soak before taking it apart. If you mess up that metal line, your day will get much worse.

 

[cogs]

the piston probably is caught forward at breaking, and then when you let off the pressure, it takes time for the piston to finally slip back into place, since it's lubricated. proves that either the line still has pressure that's slowly returning through a bent hose, or that the caliper piston is actually not going back like it should due to friction. either way, you're lucky your problem is identifiable. pads, also, might be changed when you do the job... (semi metallic is what i'm going for, but thanks guys, for the slider tips).

 

[konstan]

rebuild vs. buy

Ok so my front right caliper is frozen how can i fix it?
its a 1994 XLT 4 door

Rebuilding the caliper is a very easy job, you have to buy a rebuilt kit which has an o-ring, a dust seal and a retaining ring for the dust seal. Use the air compressor, blow air into the hole where the brake line was. put a block of wood between the pistons and keep your hand out of there. I wash the calipers in rubbing alcohol, too (it does not dissolve stuff inside, like gaskets between the two caliper halves).

So, its an easy job; and I always try to rebuild stuff rather than just replace; HOWEVER:

1. if you do not have an air compressor, it would be difficult to get the pistons out. I don't know how to do it without one

2. as easy as the rebuilding is, your time may be more valuable. you may also find that the pistons are badly pitted. So, a new caliper, cheap as they are, is a good option also, and it would take you like all of 5 minutes to replace it!!

Interestingly enough, the pins that hold the caliper in place on the Ex do not come in the rebuild kit. They are a separate item... Lube the new pins in brake grease or just put some anti-seize on them.