brake caliper won't release

[ghputnam]

Replaced front brakes and shortly there after RF caliper was not releasing, thought it was caliper, replaced with new yesterday after bleeding, I cannot get the RF to release even by force at the caliper, have not even driven it yet.

 

[seafish]

That's trying with the bleeder open?? Did you flush the system when you replaced the front pads?? Sometimes enough "dirt" (i.e. contaminated brake fluid) builds up at the bleed screw to keep it from bleeding. Also, try cracking the brake line open at the caliper and see if it releases then....sometimes the rubber lines can degrade/collapse inside themselves with no visible outside damage and prevent the fluid from releasing back to the MC. Of course you will have to bleed that line afterwards, but it might help tell you what is going on by cracking the line at the caliper. IE if it releases then, the brake line is likely at fault.

 

[ghputnam]

That's trying with the bleeder open?? Did you flush the system when you replaced the front pads?? Sometimes enough "dirt" (i.e. contaminated brake fluid) builds up at the bleed screw to keep it from bleeding. Also, try cracking the brake line open at the caliper and see if it releases then....sometimes the rubber lines can degrade/collapse inside themselves with no visible outside damage and prevent the fluid from releasing back to the MC. Of course you will have to bleed that line afterwards, but it might help tell you what is going on by cracking the line at the caliper. IE if it releases then, the brake line is likely at fault.

Thanks for the reply, after reading other posts I learned that the brake hose sometimes fails so I replaced it and "voila" healed!! I could not even blow thru it. Thank you TDR....again

 

[Bob4x4]

Many brake hose failures come from hanging/dropping the caliper while doing other work.Always support the caliper when it is removed.

 

[ghputnam]

Thanks Bob, I am careful about handling the calipers, good advice though.

 

[Motorhead]

If one is bad then the others aren't far behind. When I find one bad on the front axle, I will always replace BOTH to insure even braking.