How to fix loose calipers?

[fourmustangs]

The front Calipers on my 99 X are loose to where you can shake them.
Ive replaced the pins but didnt help...
Seems like a crappy design...

 

[mikepier]

The front Calipers on my 99 X are loose to where you can shake them.
Ive replaced the pins but didnt help...
Seems like a crappy design...

Did you tighten the caliper mount brackets? You don't need to take the tire off, you can check behind the wheel. Those loose bolts will cause the whole caliper assembly to be loose.

 

[fourmustangs]

everything is tight....all bolts...its the caliper itself
it seems to be the design of the floating pins...since those arent anchored properly...

 

[dogfriend]

Normally you should have a sliding fit on the pins. If the caliper bores are worn to the point where the calipers are racking on the pins, you need to replace the calipers.

 

[fourmustangs]

I was thinking about that...but didnt want to buy them and not be it....


since those slide pins have two flat sides if I twist them to make contact with the caliper and tighten the bolts then they dont move but they dont stay that way...

 

[dogfriend]

Sounds like the bores in the calipers are oval. You could check this by measuring with a dial caliper (or an inside mic, if you have one). Also, before you buy new ones, ask to measure the bores in the replacement calipers.

If every thing is bolted up tight, and you already replaced the caliper pins, I don't see what else it could be.

 

[fourmustangs]

I went out and shook them the caliper and bolt s and pins move...
so the pins that slide in bracket most be to loose not the actual caliper

If there is no rotor there you can slide the pins right out with the caliper....intead of like most setups your are un bolting from the bracket itself...thats why I say stupid setup...
unless Im missing some brackets....

 

[fourmustangs]

wow caliper brackets from ford are $161 each....

 

[dogfriend]

2wd or 4wd?

 

[fourmustangs]

2wd

 

[dogfriend]

97 Exp 2wd

 

[fourmustangs]

yeah in the diagram #15 doesnt move but the #14 moves around...#16 are snug and so is #17 and I replaced the pins and the caliper moves around and since there is nothing to fit into #15 like a bushing I guess I have to replace them....

With only 68k I dont know why they would be worn out...

 

[CDW6212R]

Find out what rebuilt calipers cost, and what parts come with them. Find out how much of the other hardware is available.

The key is that those pins you keep speaking of, they are greased and should never be opened up, looked at, removed, or seen. I have never seen mine, leave the rubber sealed booted bolts alone, never loosen them.

The only bolts you should ever loosen on a 95-01 Explorer front brake is the bracket/spindle bolts. Those are grade 8(stronger than you can break and will last forever) and just need a drop of red loctite each time you tighten them. Treat those like lug nuts, they should be very tight, about 75-85lbs.ft tight.

The calipers should move slightly in your hand when all is tight, but not loose or rattling. You likely have wear in those slider bolt grooves, or the sliders are worn. If you will stop loosening them, then the grease will stay in place, and air and dirt will stay out.

The rear calipers have only two bolts, the two slider bolts. You have no choice with those, so those are more delicate and need more attention. Keep those rear bolts clean, regrease them slightly as you swap pads. The rear calipers are known to stick slightly, one side will wear slightly faster. That is from the sliders not performing equally. That shouldn't happen with the front, if you leave the front caliper slider bolts alone. Regards,

 

[fourmustangs]

Find out what rebuilt calipers cost, and what parts come with them. Find out how much of the other hardware is available.

The key is that those pins you keep speaking of, they are greased and should never be opened up, looked at, removed, or seen. I have never seen mine, leave the rubber sealed booted bolts alone, never loosen them.

The calipers should move slightly in your hand when all is tight, but not loose or rattling. You likely have wear in those slider bolt grooves, or the sliders are worn.

ive only had this X now for 1,000 miles....
Ive had to replace all ball joints
Wheel bearings
rotors and pads
and it has 68,600 miles now

so I dont know what all the previous owner did to this truck to be this bad off...so with all that was moving up there Im sure the brackets got worn from the extra movement....

My guess is I have a clunking problem and I think it has to be the calipers moving....cause it only happens on complete stop and the release of the brakes....
I can brake hard and let off and no noise....

 

[CDW6212R]

Change the calipers, rebuilt calipers are almost a steal for most vehicles. If the history of the vehicle is unknown, then that would be wise peace of mind to do.

 

[fourmustangs]

Change the calipers, rebuilt calipers are almost a steal for most vehicles. If the history of the vehicle is unknown, then that would be wise peace of mind to do.

Im not following why to replace the calipers just cause their cheap and still have other problems...

 

[CDW6212R]

I doubt it's the actual brackets, most people don't really take those slider bolts loose enough to wear out the brackets. I would though look at those and all of the hardware very carefully.

Finding most problems comes down to inspecting things, replacing something, or otherwise digging around in the vehicle and finding something wrong. I know it's not how the dealer guys do it, they hook up a computer and ask the machine for advice. YThat helps them a lot, but when that fails, they have to try to use intelligence to find the problem. That's where many dealers let us down. I hear often about how much people pay for basic service around me here. It's scary to think of them as being the only choice sometimes. Avoid that.

 

[fourmustangs]

Should be getting some used brackets for cheap to see if thats the problem
If not the problem will start replacing calipers...

 

[brickwall]

is the clip inside the caliper that holds the pads down still in place??

 

[fourmustangs]

Yes all those are new pieces....just replaced two weeks ago at same time as doing front shocks.


When I shake the calipers the calipers and pins shake in the bracket they can move almost 3/16 of an inch