Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Had a slight problem with my left rear brake caliper the other day. Hopefully this story will save someone a big headache. Here in WV all vehicles are required to get an annual inspection. No smog test but they do check the basic stuff to make sure its working. While mine was being done I asked that the wheels be rotated since they had the front ones off anyway. After a bit the guy working on the truck called me into the shop to show me a problem with the left rear brake. He asked me to touch the caliper. When I did I said OUCH! It was hotter than *ell. Anyway to get to the point, one of the pistons in the caliper was not retracting after the brake pedal was released. It kept pressure on the pad and I could see that the pads were separating from the backing plate! After he removed the pads from the caliper one of them did separate. I can only imagine what could have happened if it had separated while going along at 70 on the Interstate. I never notice any smell of hot pads at any time. Even after extended driving on a recent 4000 mile trip. I had had the tires rotated prior to that trip and did not notice anything wrong. So whatever happened probably did so after that. The pads on the other side looked almost new, thanks in part to the exhaust brake.
So now my question is, is there anyway to prevent a piston from sticking in the caliper? Thanks for reading this far.
So now my question is, is there anyway to prevent a piston from sticking in the caliper? Thanks for reading this far.
