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Brake caliper sticking

20 years ago

88 subaru loyal, brake caliper sticking and heating up engine and burning rotor up. I checked the rubber line and its not clogged.(front passenger side)Just put a new master cylinder on it a few weeks ago.When I hit the brakes the car doesn't pull though.But when I open the bleeder on the caliper and there is no one holding the brake down the fluid squirts out of it like they been partially pumped up prior to bleeding.I think its the caliper that is at fault but wanted to see if there was any other possible problems before I went and purchased a new one.Like I said,The line is all cleared from the master cylinder to the caliper even the rubber hose.I am unfamiliar with subarus but I would think the brake system are the same as chevy ford and dodge.There is no ABS system on it either.

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Comments (7)

zinc_man
Original Author
20 years ago
Sorry it's a 92 not an 88. Was thinking of my truck.
earthworm
20 years ago
On some cars there is an adjustment between the pedal and the cylinder.
There must be some free play, also the pedal must not be hanging or binding.
I see nothing wrong with the caliper as long as the piston moves properly.
The hydraulic flex lines can, with age(ten years plus), restrict , even control(more or less) the fluid flow..
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By design, the caliper piston cannot be caused to move in and out of the caliper bore on an angle. There is simply not enough room for that to happen. However dirt and corrosion which would have made it necessary to replace the caliper when the brakes were realigned could have gone undetected because it isn't visible under the outer dust boot. Keep in mind too that a second possible cause for the pads now wearing on a taper are the caliper slides. When you step on the brake not only does the piston push the inner pad against the rotor, it causes the outer pad to be squeezed against the rotor as well because the entire caliper shifts in response to the pressure that the piston is exerting on the inner pad. If one of the slides is not operating correctly, it could cause the caliper to twist as the brakes get applied. The problem is, did the shop recommend replacement calipers or at the least caliper slide service when the brakes were done? What we have here I suspect is the classic problem of the shop trying to save you money when they should not have. OR. They did in fact recommend the caliper replacement or slide service, but when giving you options, for one reason or another the replacement of them was declined by you. Right now there is no way to know from our (my) perspective. If the shop didn't advise you replace the calipers, because they operate in an honest fashion and had no proof they were genuinely needed they did on fact do exactly what they should have done. As the saying goes "stuff happens" VBG. Work with them, get your car fixed and move on. JMHO.
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Too bad you didn't get a licence number. (maybe you did ?). Anyway when that happends to us, up here. we turn in their number to the police and they get a visit and could be charged. That means any traffic violation that the other driver could have been hurt in as in yourself. If the driver is charged god help them. Up here the police charge them. Our courts charge them, the D.M.V. charge them, and the insurance company finishes them off. I think this is the only place on the planet you get charged 4 times for the same crime. If you have one at fault accident your drivers licence goes from $34.00 to $200.00. Your basic car insurance could go from $1000.00 to $2000.00 for the next 5 years. I'll bet your brake caliper is worn and got twisted sideways on the pins. Jammed. Normally it is the piston that seizes on the return from rust build up behind the dust seal caused by water contaminated brake fluid that hasn't been changed since 1993.
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ericwi
20 years ago
I think the flexible brake line is ballooning a bit, perhaps not enough to see, when the brake is applied and the brake line is pressurized. When you release the brake pedal, there is enough residual pressure in the system to maintain some pressure on the pads. The only solution is to replace the flexible brake hoses.
john999
20 years ago
Sounds like the seal on the piston has blown out.
earthworm
20 years ago
So, ZincMan, what was the outcome ?
I believe Eric is on the right track..
RCMJr
20 years ago
.

There NEEDS to be some residual pressure in the lines when the brakes are not applied . . . this keeps the seals tight against the bore; which prevents leakage. Even though the piston still moves; it does not mean that it moves freely enough . . . time will slowly accumulate gunk; and brake fluid by definition absorbs water from the air . . which can eventually accumulate and start rust / corrosion.

If the line is plugged; you'd not get decent braking out of that wheel. Besides; pressure in a closed system is the same everywhere . . .

I'd say it's new caliper time . . .

Bob
jesse_dupey_gmail_com
15 years ago
I have a 99 grand caravan . I replaced both front brakes an calipers . I bleed both sides . After a few days driving to n from work my passenger side began to smoke an turned my rotor a glowing red . I later found the rubber boot on the caliper burned of n found my rotor to be now cracked . I since have replaced both . But I am still having the same problem . The caliper is seezed against the rotor . I can not figure out why . Any advise?

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