stuck caliper pin

[Donald]

When replacing pads, rotors and calipers on my Camry I noticed one side had one of the caliper pins stuck, and on that side the inner pad was gone and the outer pad hardly worn. I had to put it together with the pin stuck as I needed to use the car, but what do I need to go back and replace.

 

[Familyguy]

You'll wear out the inner pad again (in short order) until you fix the problem. Once you manage to get the pin "unstuck" you should clean off the corrosion to the extent possible. I generally use the wire brush on my bench grinder for that or a dremel+brush when the pin is inconvenient to remove. Once you've got it cleaned up, lube it up with a quality high temp brake grease. If you haven't already, I'd also take the opportunity to do the same thing to the other side as well.

 

[Donald]

I was thinking I would replace it, but unsure how to get it out. I hammered at it a bit in an effort to get it unstuck, but that did not help.

 

[Bluestream]

You will likely have to heat it up to get it out. Take off the rubber boot, and apply heat to the casting. Propane heat may not be hot enough, and you may need acetyene

 

[Familyguy]

It's been a long while since I've done the brakes on a camry. Got any pics? A generous dousing with PB Blaster and some twisting with the BFC (big channel locks) usually works for me to free it up. If it has a rubber grommet that you can remove, you can also try a little heat. I've got one of those cheapo MAPP gas + oxygen torch setups from Home Depot that usually does the trick when I need to heat things up.

 

[Donald]

How is the caliper pin held in? Pressed in? Screwed in?

 

[ocrstar]

Pressed in. I've put the pin in a vice and spun the caliper around to loosen it and hit the side of the caliper out with a hammer while in a vice.

 

[The Critic]

I would just replace the front calipers with a set of remanufactured semi-loaded calipers.

Considering that your Camry has nearly 200k on it, the calipers are probably tired.

 

[KrisZ]

If the pin can be twisted, then there is no need for a new caliper as the pin can be removed. Even if the pin is severly pitted from corrosion, just replaceing the pin is enough.

I had a similar situation in in-laws Jetta about 3-4 years ago, I cleaned everything up, gave plenty of lube and re-assembled. This year the rear pads needed changing again and all the pins except one (on the drivers side) were moving smoothly. The one that was stuck had a torn rubber dust boot, all others were fine.

To help in pin removal try twisting and pulling on the caliper at the sme time, it will slowly come out.

 

[The Critic]

Considering the age of Donald's car, his calipers may very well fail tomorrow and ruin his new set of pads.

If he plans to keep his car for a while, then installing a set of remanufactured semi-loaded calipers would be a wise decision.

 

[KrisZ]

I didn't realize that stuck pin = ruined caliper especially if the aftermention caliper works properly after clean up and has all dust boots in good contition.

I would be more concerned about brake lines at this piont, since they may be rusty and rubber may be swelled/cracked.

 

[mechtech2]

Rebuilt calipers should be high on your options list.
And check them for lube even when new.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I would just replace the front calipers with a set of remanufactured semi-loaded calipers.

Considering that your Camry has nearly 200k on it, the calipers are probably tired.


The car has new calipers (but just the basic caliper) along with pads, and rotors, so I am not going to install semi loaded calipers.

 

[Donald]

Would a caliper bracket from RockAuto contain the pins and boots?

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

new calipers w/ stuck pin? that's really sad. the brackets for my car are just the bracket, but you should ask them. if you can't get it out, you have to take the calipers back

and yes, i would regrease the pins even when new like mechtech said. i like the ceramic green grease it lasts longer

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: [RT
ProjUltraZ]new calipers w/ stuck pin? that's really sad. the brackets for my car are just the bracket, but you should ask them. if you can't get it out, you have to take the calipers back

and yes, i would regrease the pins even when new like mechtech said. i like the ceramic green grease it lasts longer


I bought a basic caliper, which fits into the bracket. So the bracket and pins were old, only basic caliper was new. The caliper bolts to the bracket which bolts to the wheel.

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

even if you get the stuck pin out, it's hard to thoroughly clean the tube. might as well get a new bracket and pins

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

wait, if the bracket and pins were removable to RR, how did it get stuck right after. what kinds grease did you use

 

[Donald]

one of the pins has been stuck for awhile