Decent Brand of Brake Calipers?

[Clarkbug]

Back again with another maintenance question.... (starting to hate cars these days....)

This time its my relatively new-to-me 2016 CRV with about 111k on the clock. Took it for a quick ride at lunchtime and when I got out smelled hot brakes. Rear drivers wheel was toasty, lots of new black dust, so tells me where my problem is.

I know I need to pull it apart and see if a pad is sticking in the bracket, but I am thinking more likely its a stuck caliper, and possibly less likely a failed internally brake hose. Background info: Previous owner had rear brakes done at the dealer in June, about 2k miles ago. I had brake fluid flushed right after I got the vehicle since I didn't know the history, so that was about two months ago. Have had no issues or noticed any smell or sticking up until today. So something has just decided to be done I guess.

Suggestions on a replacement caliper, assuming that's the culprit? I see several new options on Rock Auto, but not sure that any of them are decent. Dynamic Friction and Ultra Power seem to have compelling offerings, but I also could just go get an OEM one for about 5x the price. Should I also look at swapping the brake hose as a "just in case"? I never thought about it much before reading on this site, now Im paranoid about all of that kinda stuff....

Thank you in advance!

 

[rijndael]

I'd get one from Honda.

I replace hoses when I do calipers.

 

[Clarkbug]

I'd get one from Honda.

I replace hoses when I do calipers.

I was leaning that way if its not the simple fix of a stuck pad or slide pin.

Maybe the Sunsong hoses from RockAuto based on some of the reviews here...

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Any of the all-new calipers will be fine

Get some coated rotors (in the gray section on Rock Auto) along with your choice of pads. Then get the all-new calipers that ship from the same warehouse as your pads and rotors.

Sunsong hoses are good quality, and most of the other aftermarket hoses will be reboxed Sunsong for a higher price, or something else that's not as good as Sunsong.

 

[Hall]

Trav recommends (or used to) Raybestos NEW calipers.

Even if the dealer didn't lube the pads during the brake job 2k miles ago, no way they're hanging up already (or very unlikely). A failed hose at your mileage seems uncommon too but I guess that's the 2nd best thing to hope for (after a hung-up pad).

 

[Clarkbug]

Any of the all-new calipers will be fine

Get some coated rotors (in the gray section on Rock Auto) along with your choice of pads. Then get the all-new calipers that ship from the same warehouse as your pads and rotors.

Sunsong hoses are good quality, and most of the other aftermarket hoses will be reboxed Sunsong for a higher price, or something else that's not as good as Sunsong.

Hoping I caught it early enough that I don't need new pads/rotors. These are only a couple months old and have less than 2k miles on them as OEM Honda parts, so would really like to keep them if there isn't too much damage done.

Thanks for the info on the hoses!

Trav recommends (or used to) Raybestos NEW calipers.

Even if the dealer didn't lube the pads during the brake job 2k miles ago, no way they're hanging up already (or very unlikely). A failed hose at your mileage seems uncommon too but I guess that's the 2nd best thing to hope for (after a hung-up pad).

Im a little leery of Raybestos stuff these days. I had used a lot of their Element3 stuff when they were popular here, and had several different vehicles that used them (some still do), but also had a couple really lousy sets with bad fitment and poor performance/longevity. Not sure if their calipers have taken a similar turn or not. @Trav any thoughts on current recommendations?

 

[rijndael]

My recent Element3 pads have been cold temp squealers.

 

[altaylar]

Once needed new calipers and went to toyota dealer, they quoted me about $1500-$2000 for two front calipers and installation. I bought used ones from ebay for about $100 a pair.

I would either check rack auto or ebay

 

[Clarkbug]

Once needed new calipers and went to toyota dealer, they quoted me about $1500-$2000 for two front calipers and installation. I bought used ones from ebay for about $100 a pair.

I would either check rack auto or ebay

I would want to go new since they are still available and haven't gone obsolete.

Found some OEMs on eBay for around $220, and Rock Auto has several options from $50 to $150 or so. That's part of why I started this thread to get an idea of which to buy, should I need it. Was rainy and dark when I finished up working yesterday, so no chance to tear into it yet and see if it's a stuck pin or on the hydraulic side of things... I'm tempted to get a caliper and brake hose just to have it handy in case, but most of the stores locally just have remans. Would rather go new.

 

[altaylar]

I would go with rackauto option if you are not in a hurry. I bought mine from ebay because because i needed the car working asap

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Never had a problem with Cardone calipers, but who knows who's making them now. Whatever you buy, make sure they say " new" and not " refurbished".

 

[Clarkbug]

Pulled the trigger on an OE caliper from Honda and some SunSong hoses headed my way from the Rock. Now that I bought parts it will be something simple like a rock wedged behind a pad, but I know if I don't buy everything I'll need whatever it is that I don't have.

At least if it's simple I'll have parts for the future, and if it's not I'll be prepared.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

For what it's worth, you're in the Salt Belt, like me. I kept getting stuck rear calipers on my 13' CRV. The road salt was eating the piston cups, causing them to seize. I filled the cups with high temp silicone, then installed the pad after the silicone set up. I notched the silicone with a utility knife to allow the fingers of the pad to fit. That kept the salt out and haven't changed a caliper since. Did the same to the front calipers. Tedious process, but it worked. Such is life in the Salt Belt. Check that caliper for corrosion inside the piston cup. Then I would check the other side also.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

Does it have a mechanical parking brake caliper? Can’t forget that the brake cable could be the culprit if so. If it’s electric parking brake calipers disregard…or parking brake shoes as well.

 

[Jango]

My driver side rear caliper recently went out on my 07 CRV and I replaced it with a AZ Duralast Japan built remanufactured unit with lifetime warranty. Cheaper than other options and AZ is close to home making it easier if warranty claims occur.

 

[Clarkbug]

For what it's worth, you're in the Salt Belt, like me. I kept getting stuck rear calipers on my 13' CRV. The road salt was eating the piston cups, causing them to seize. I filled the cups with high temp silicone, then installed the pad after the silicone set up. I notched the silicone with a utility knife to allow the fingers of the pad to fit. That kept the salt out and haven't changed a caliper since. Did the same to the front calipers. Tedious process, but it worked. Such is life in the Salt Belt. Check that caliper for corrosion inside the piston cup. Then I would check the other side also.

Yep, I'm in the salt. Will have to see how things look. Previous owner had the brakes done at the dealer in June, so I figure they would have tried to sell a caliper too if there was something up....

Does it have a mechanical parking brake caliper? Can’t forget that the brake cable could be the culprit if so. If it’s electric parking brake calipers disregard…or parking brake shoes as well.

Im honestly not sure, but I think these have the drum in the rotor hat for the parking brake. It's not electric on my year.

My driver side rear caliper recently went out on my 07 CRV and I replaced it with a AZ Duralast Japan built remanufactured unit with lifetime warranty. Cheaper than other options and AZ is close to home making it easier if warranty claims occur.

I thought about one from the parts store with the lifetime warranty, but am hopeful that an OEM one will get me another 9 years or so before there is an issue.

 

[PandaBear]

Junkyard pull OEM. Or used OEM from eBay. Or OEM from dealer.

 

[Donald]

I would have pulled the caliper off to see what is going on. Maybe it's just a stuck pin?

In the rust belt people need to be careful about filing the pad ears for a better fit. They will rust quickly and possibly causing issues. Better to get quality pads that fit without needing any filing.

 

[Clarkbug]

Got into it a little more today. Caliper was hydraulically locked up. After pressing the pedal, I couldn't move the hub, and it would gradually get a little better if I worked at it. I figure that meant the hose had failed. Got the old one out without snapping off the hard line, so that's a huge win.

Good news: another vote for SunSong brake hoses. Very nice quality, was exactly the same as OEM as far as fitment.

Bad news: It wasn't just the hose. Caliper is in transit and should be here Monday. Old one is pretty crusty. At least it should go quickly now that the hose is swapped. Plus gave me a chance to hit the new metal with some woolwax for rust prevention purposes.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Trav recommends (or used to) Raybestos NEW calipers.

Even if the dealer didn't lube the pads during the brake job 2k miles ago, no way they're hanging up already (or very unlikely). A failed hose at your mileage seems uncommon too but I guess that's the 2nd best thing to hope for (after a hung-up pad).

That lube should not even matter and only collects dust and makes it harder for the pad to slide.