Dragging caliper question

[supton]

Took my truck out last night for a quick spin, realized that it had an unbalanced wheel at 40mph... which is an odd speed. Got home, did a walk around, and I have a hot brake. Yep, the caliper I replaced two years ago is giving grief. [Looking back it looks like it may have been dragging since then? and I forgot it was dragging? eek.] Since it was from Autozone I'll just return it under their warranty, says limited lifetime after all. Am hoping I can take apart tonight.

My question is, what was the hop from? It felt like an unbalanced wheel, but only at one speed. Possibly completely unrelated?

 

[Trav]

What you felt was probably just from the rotor grabbing, check the rotor runout also.
I would look for a new caliper from Raybestos at Rock and bin that Cardone rubbish, lifetime warranty is all well and good but changing it with all the related parts every time it fails is a PITA.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

It was the rotora getting hot and either warping or was from pad buildup from it dragging before.

I put new calipers on the F-350 exactly a year ago today. They both have seized pistons again. ALL lines on this truck are new, so it's not a soft line collapsed or the sliders.

I have driven the truck more in the past 20 months than it's ever been driven in any 20 months and towed more with it than ever before - about 8,000 miles. It's never had more than 4000 or 5000 miles a year. I figured that would help

 

[supton]

I'm dithering on grabbing an OEM caliper on the way home, but I know I replaced the caliper bracket and getting a new one of those also will make for a $$$ repair. Not sure if there is a difference in caliper brackets? Seems like they all should mix and match. Tempted to do OEM only for the "it'll work the first time" aspect.

Rock does have the Raybestos for like $82 new. That's a definite siren call to go that route. I don't think I need the truck this weekend... but I can't rule that out.

 

[Silverado12]

Make sure it's not your flexible hose that's plugged up. If you didn't replace it with the last caliper, I would replace it when you put the new one on the truck.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Silverado12
Make sure it's not your flexible hose that's plugged up. If you didn't replace it with the last caliper, I would replace it when you put the new one on the truck.


I can't rule that out. Looking back at my thread back then, I commented that the reman was dragging. After that, it all falls into a black hole. Did it stop dragging? Did I stop noticing? Is the problem coming and going? I got my Camry shortly thereafter and it seems like I forgot all about this issue. Guess I'll look at how to replace that also.

What are the odds of a bad flex line? I replaced calipers twice on my Jetta and never touched the lines.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: supton
Rock does have the Raybestos for like $82 new. That's a definite siren call to go that route. I don't think I need the truck this weekend... but I can't rule that out.


As Trav mentioned get the Raybestos OPTI-CAL calipers that are new (not Remans) and don't have a core deposit. They look to be very high quality. Forget getting a high priced oem unit that probably isn't much better in this instance.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8467488&cc=1444382&jsn=401

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Originally Posted By: supton
Rock does have the Raybestos for like $82 new. That's a definite siren call to go that route. I don't think I need the truck this weekend... but I can't rule that out.


As Trav mentioned get the Raybestos OPTI-CAL calipers that are new (not Remans) and don't have a core deposit. They look to be very high quality. Forget getting a high priced oem unit that probably isn't much better in this instance.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8467488&cc=1444382&jsn=401


Hmm, seems like a consensus then. I'll go that route and just order the darn thing then along with brake lines. Cheap enough. Now to figure out how much I want to pay for shipping.

Edit: on order. Went for next day as I want to do this job this weekend, might want to, you know, use the truck for stuff. I don't think I cooked the pads, they were done this fall and I barely drove it this winter. I hope!

 

[SatinSilver]

I'd go the cheapest option they have for shipping. And hope you're surprised if you receive it in a few days. Prob go for the cheapest brake hose go since they all have to meet certain standards per Trav. Put a few of them in your cart and see if any will be shipped out of the same place as the caliper to avoid double shipping fees. Then just remove the other ones out of the cart.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
I'd go the cheapest option they have for shipping. And hope you're surprised if you receive it in a few days. Prob go for the cheapest brake hose go since they all have to meet certain standards per Trav. Put a few of them in your cart and see if any will be shipped out of the same place as the caliper to avoid double shipping fees. Then just remove the other ones out of the cart.



Too late, on order. I'm a bit anal when it comes to fixing my vehicles. As I said, I want this working this weekend. Waiting until mon/tues was unacceptable to me. Ergo... yeah I overpaid on shipping. But what are you to do when you want it done right and the first time? I'm also a bit stressed, as we just put our house up for sale and between what will be a stressful time showing our house while house hunting... having this brake issue in the middle of it is not acceptable!

 

[SatinSilver]

Makes sense, always nice to get things done and crossed off the list. I think you'll be pleased with the new caliper.

I had to put a new caliper on the 2012 Camry last year, right rear. The Opti-cal wasn't available so went with one from Napa. Wish I could have bought one of these in retrospect.

 

[StevieC]

On a side note I have never needed to replace a caliper on any of my vehicles and I keep them well beyond most peoples junk points. I guess regular brake flushes keeps this away ?!?

 

[BigD1]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
On a side note I have never needed to replace a caliper on any of my vehicles and I keep them well beyond most peoples junk points. I guess regular brake flushes keeps this away ?!?


Ever owned GM ratcheting piston calipers? They are just bad.

 

[StevieC]

I guess you haven't read my previous posts about my lack of love for GM products. Glad you said it and not me.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
On a side note I have never needed to replace a caliper on any of my vehicles and I keep them well beyond most peoples junk points. I guess regular brake flushes keeps this away ?!?



My prior Jetta got fluid changes every 2-3 years and yet it needed new rear calipers every time I did brakes (about every 5 years). Something about that platform had rust getting into the pistons. Fronts were fine though, even after 300kmiles.

I'm not clear how fluid changes prevent rust. I can't find a good pic of what I'm thinking about. But I'm thinking rust can start on the outside of the piston, outside of the brake fluid area, and over time will migrate to where the seal is. And then on in. The rubber boot retards that but I think it is just a matter of time.

But I've seen vehicles go way past 10 years with original fluid. Luck of the draw I think.

But on this truck, the caliper rusted at the six year mark. I am pretty sure the prior owner did no fluid changes. Me, I suspect I might have in 2013 or 2014, and then it seized in 2016.

I still try to do brake fluid changes every 2-3 years. I think it does matter.

 

[carbon12]

I recently checked the price for the new Raybestos opti cal calipers from Rock Auto and they were only about $60 each for my 03 Sierra. Not sure where they are made but how can they offer these so cheap for new instead of rebuilt? I was too skeptical to order them but there seems to be a consensus in this thread they are superior to rebuilds. Reconsidering my options now.

 

[Trav]

They are made in China by Raybestos, that's no problem at all, they can make parts in any quality including high quality if that's what is required.
It is an American company and profits come back to the USA unlike Milwaukee power tools which is Chinese and made in China but people don't mind that one bit.

They are good calipers, I use them often since they came out and have never found a defect in them, corrosion resistance, fit and finish are very good.
Personally I rather have a well made caliper that is made in China that meets a lot of specs than a rehash done by OTJ minimum wage flunkies who couldn't care less about quality.

 

[cronk]

I recently installed a new Raybestos optical rear caliper on my F350, it did appear to be very good quality and is working well so far.

As a side bar, it seems like I always have trouble with these Ford calipers with the phenolic pistons. Always seem to stick when they get some age to them.

 

[supton]

Supposed to show up today.

I removed the caliper last night. Despite sitting for 24 hours it was still dragging/tight on the rotor. So I don't think bad line. I rocked it a bit to compress the piston so I could remove and then the rotor spun freely. So not parking brake. I did find that the outer pad was hard to remove; I think rust jacking under the shim but honestly most pads seem to need tweaking in my experience to slide smoothly. Took a file to the pads and now they slide freely.

I compressed the piston but it barely moved. I put the compression tool into the piston, then left with ~3mm or so of play so that I could force the piston out. No vacuum in the booster meant I had to cram on the brakes to make it come out. I then tried cranking the piston in and while it went it just did not slide easily (did not touch the bleeder though, will try that tonight). I think it all points to bad caliper.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: cronk
I recently installed a new Raybestos optical rear caliper on my F350, it did appear to be very good quality and is working well so far.

As a side bar, it seems like I always have trouble with these Ford calipers with the phenolic pistons. Always seem to stick when they get some age to them.


The Phenolic are worse than the regular ones as far as I can tell! I figured they would be better since they weren't metal. Apparently, that's not the case. One year in and I'm back to having to hammer on the rear calipers.