Stuck Buick Caliper question

[DLausche]

Working on a friends 88 park avenue and have a question about brake lines. The right front caliper had been dragging and wore the brakes out. They were hot enough to melt the plastic cap off the end of the valve stem (HOT!!). Well, I replaced both rotors and both calipers and a new set of pads of course. But, when it came to bleed the brakes (replacing fluid), I was unable to get any fluid to flow from the front right with 15psi and my Motive power bleeder. This was without the line connected to the caliper. Was able to bleed the new fluid thru by pumping the brake pedal though. The fluid that came out looked like liquid rust. Drivers side bled very easily with just the power bleeder and 10psi.



Now, this got me thinking. Might there be some sort of line blockage causing the hard bleed from the right front. Could it have been what caused the caliper to bind in the first place? Should I try just replacing the rubber line, or... ? I hate to burn up another set of pads and rotor if this one sticks as well due the line blockage or something like that. Or should I not worry about it as long as it drives ok?



Thanks for your thoughts.

-Deon

 

[CSnyder]

Deon, I would first make sure the metal line crossing over to the right side isn't crushed somewhere along the engine cradle. I have heard of this being a problem with them since they are right on the front of the cradle and it doesn't take much to crush them when they get old with rust. I used to live in Farmington and I know all about rust up there from working at AAA Auto Salvage. If the line is crushed you will get a hung-up caliper leading to brake sticking and burning up pads and rotors..... hope this helps, Chris

 

[Extreme1]

I've had the flexible lines act as one way valves before. Remove the flexible line and see if fluid flows easily. If it does not flow, it's the steel line. If it does floe with the flexible line removed, replace both flexible lines.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Check to see if there is a metal support on the rubber brake line. On my nephews Lumina, the metal bracket that supports the brake hose rusted and slowly closed up the rubber line. The fluid would go through the pinched hose, but wouldn't reverse. This made the caliper stick bigtime. I couldn't see anything wrong with the hose just by looking at it. I pulled the rubber line off and tried to blow through it. Nothing. I opened up the metal bracket w/ channel locks and it was as good as new.

 

[DLausche]

Thanks for all the excellent tips! I'll have a look at it tomorrow after work and post back with what I find. I'm just hoping that it isn't the metal line being crushed or something like that. I've never had to learn how to prep a brake flare fitting before. Not sure if that is easy or not.



-Deon

 

[DLausche]

Well, sorry to have to say I don't (and won't) know what the brake problem was here. This ends a sad story in my book. The Buick belongs to the (ex) boyfriend of the gal I've known and carpooled with for about 10 years now. I guess something wasn't going right, and he came and took the car the other day from my garage while I was at work and moved out from her place. I'd put new rotors, calipers, and pads on it, but not yet figured out the problem with the restricted line. I'm pretty sure he will be needing brake work very soon since I'm quite sure the new caliper is binding now as well. That's not the worst though, I hadn't finished bleading the rear brakes, and he took off with all the rear wheel lug nuts barely threaded on. Tried as heck to get a hold of him and tell him that, but stuborness has seemed to prevail so far and I've not been able to get in touch with him.



Thanks again for all your great help guys. I'll remember those tips the next time I run into this brake problem



-Deon

 

[daveshoe]

I would send a next day letter to his address and warn him of the unfinished job. You could be looking at a big lawsuit if something like an accident happens because of loose lug nuts. Not saying he would win,but avoiding the lawsuit is in your best interest. If the girlfriend knows where he works, perhaps the local police could warn him about his car and avoid the hassle of a workplace confrontation. Just my . 02

 

[DLausche]

I would send a next day letter to his address and warn him of the unfinished job. You could be looking at a big lawsuit if something like an accident happens because of loose lug nuts. Not saying he would win,but avoiding the lawsuit is in your best interest. If the girlfriend knows where he works, perhaps the local police could warn him about his car and avoid the hassle of a workplace confrontation. Just my . 02

I hear ya on that. Although the fact that he had to unjack and reassemble the car in my garage should work to my favor in a lawsuit scenario.



I was relieved to hear that the message somehow got through to him and he tightened the rear lugs - at least that is the message that I heard.

 

[DLausche]

Well, I've got an update to the brake issue. The owner of the car and my friend are back together again (and now married!). They brought the car back to me to finish the work. Thank God he got word and tightened the rear lug nuts b4 a wheel fell off.



Anyways, I checked the metal line and it looked fine as far as I could tell. I then replaced both brake hoses and problem solved. No more brake hang up.



Thanks to all for their help on this.

-Deon