Rear Brake Caliper Leaking

[TimothyLong]

A friend of mine has an '06 Mega cab with about 50K on it. This past weekend he was doing some traveling and towing a trailer with about 5K lbs on it and noticed that his right rear brake caliper was leaking. He was able to get back home okay and on Monday he came to work, no trailer, and the rear caliper didn't leak. He only tows occasionally. He said that he hasn't noticed any pulsing in the brake pedal to indicate a warped rotor and the pads aren't squealing. He took it to a shop (not a dealer) and they said that he needed a new caliper, new rear rotors, and new brake pads to the tune of about $1400. He told them to just give him back the truck.

He may or may not need new brake pads. Just because they aren't squealing yet doesn't mean that they aren't close (he didn't say how the pads looked). If the rotors aren't warped and he said he couldn't see any other kind of damage, I'd say his rotors are just fine and that the shop was trying to "squeal" him. The leaking caliper is another story. Does anybody have any ideas what would cause it to leak under load like this? If he rebuilt it, would that take care of it or should he get a new caliper? Thoughts?

Oop! Should have posted this on the 3rd Gen forum. Sorry!

 

[DGamelin]

If the brakes are not pulsating I would replace the caliper and pads on both sides. If you like you can turn the rotors but I would think only having 50k they probably dont need it. When he had a load he probably used more pedal pressure.

I have a 04. 5 today I was servicing it, had the truck up on jake stands and could not turn the left rear tire. One of the pistons in the caliper is frozen, the truck has 70k on it I find this aggravating although the truck has needed a lot of repairs. I am going to put pads and a caliper on it I see no need for rotors. The truck has good pedal and brakes.

Good Luck



93 2wd xc 354 auto 256k

04. 5 4wd cc dully 373 6speed 70k

 

[Wingate]

did the truck use any brake fluid? Or could it possibly be an axle seal leaking a little. . possibly due to an overfilled rear differential (foaming)?... Just a thought. .

 

[TimothyLong]

did the truck use any brake fluid? Or could it possibly be an axle seal leaking a little. . possibly due to an overfilled rear differential (foaming)?... Just a thought. .

Don't know. I will ask him.

 

[TimothyLong]

Uhhh, $1400 seems steep. Are they hanging 4 calipers, 4 rotors, and new pads? That seems unnecessary at 50K.



I don't have Dodge prices, but NAPA lists the caliper for $85, pads for about the same, and rotors for $90-$150.



FWIW, lots of shops get about 30% off, then mark them up 100%, then add labor. Most aren't getting rich, including the shop charging $1400, since they won't get the work.



Like the previous poster said, I'd check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir. If reasonably normal, (it lowers as the pads wear), I'd still pull the wheel and wash it down with brake cleaner.



I don't know how your friend drives, (city/hwy) but my rears at 85K still have a lot of life in them.



It wouldn't surprise me if his pads and rotors were fine, however if the pads are visibly contaminated, replace them and the leaking caliper. I haven't rebuilt a Ram caliper yet, but have done others that include the parking mechanism. At $85, I'd hang a new one.



If your friend doesn't want to do brake work, I'd find another shop.

I believe that he said they were going to hang all 4 sets of pads, both rear rotors, and a new caliper. I agree with you that if a new caliper is only $85, then that would be the way to go. I have 103K on my '03 and I still have the factory pads on my rear brakes and only had the fronts replaced once so far. But then I don't tow either. Thanks for the info and the advice!

 

[TimothyLong]

Okay, found out that the brake fluid level was down about 1/2 inch below full. Also found out that the trailer has its own brakes and that he has a Prodigy brake controller using proper adjustments.