Brake Caliper Frozen

[BIGNASTY]

Puzzled with Caliper frozen on son's 04 passenger side rear. He went to change pads & rotors and couldn't compress the Caliper pistons back into place. Bought new caliper went together and works fine. NEVER have I had such a problem with Disk Brakes whats your idea as to why?????


BIG

 

[Ozymandias]

That happens, they wear out with time.
In the rustbelt it happens way more often, you seems to be a very happy guy that you never had that before.

 

[cerberusiam]

15 year old truck, lack of flushing, environment, etc. If this is the first issue with the calipers count the blessings. Probably should replace the rest of them, new pads usually raise the incidence of caliper failure.

 

[Wayne M.]

Stuck calipers we’re a huge thing back in the day of single big steel pistons. They still happen though.

 

[mfurrh55]

Yep, had to replace mine when I was up in Connecticut last year, it kept sticking and finally saw some smoke, been good since I changed it out, looked like it had tiny pieces of gravel in it, probably did , my road and driveway are gravel

 

[CVR222NV]

I had the driver's side front caliper go out last year and replaced it and the rotor. This summer the driver's side rear caliper froze and took out the rotor so I replaced both as well as the passenger side rear caliper and rotor and the passenger front caliper. Should be good to go for another 13 years!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Thanks for the come-backs. I have changed my brake fluid many times with a Motive pressure bleeder and have suggested that my son do the same anyone with offspring knows how that goes sometimes. I've changed pad & rotors (due to heavy loads pulled) but I'm very sure that I've never had caliper problems maybe due to the brake fluid changes?


Thanks BIG

 

[jjdiesel]

Mine's an 04 too...just happened two weeks ago! Passenger front, took out the rotor. Replaced both front rotors and pads..and of course the caliper. 176k on the clock...like you, I've changed brake fluid regularly. Best truck I've ever owned!

 

[MGreer]

Over time the phenolic pistons inside the calipers will expand causing the same problem. On mine the calipers looked as good as new on the inside but the pistons were slightly swollen.

 

[3rdGenGuy]

Those rare calipers are known for that. Stock and reman only last about a year before you have to tap on them with a bar and hammer to get the pistons freed up again. You guys haven’t noticed any overheating or a warped disk?

 

[3rdGenGuy]

Rare...... Rear

 

[MGreer]

What do you mean by "rare calipers" ?

 

[Wiredawg]

was it the slide pins or the actual piston that froze?

 

[3rdGenGuy]

“Rear” calipers my bad.

 

[Wiredawg]

Those slide pins periodically need lubing... in long days passed, brake pad replacement would coincide with this lubing, but thanks to exhaust brakes (mine is on every time the truck is running), we are getting extended brake pad life. I turned my 09 4500 into the dealer specifically to clean and lube the calipers at 60K miles and 7 years. $25 each and worth every penny. Used to do this myself to all my vehicles.

Cheers, Ron

 

[3rdGenGuy]

I always grease the heck out of the slide pins on my 04.5, the pistons on those rear calipers get stuck after about a year when you replace them. With free replacement that’s fine, but I tap on the caliper frame to free them up. Know issue with my truck for me.