brake caliper

[tripolincoln]

how can you tell if your caliper is bad? my ls started grinding in the rear left brake and made noise as I drove, so my buddy and i took the wheel off and the pads on the inside are grinded almost all the way and the othe side still good shape my rotors are also in need of replacing

Im replacing rotors but is the caliper bad?

 

[joegr]

how can you tell if your caliper is bad? my ls started grinding in the rear left brake and made noise as I drove, so my buddy and i took the wheel off and the pads on the inside are grinded almost all the way and the othe side still good shape my rotors are also in need of replacing

Im replacing rotors but is the caliper bad?

Are you saying that the inside or outside pad is worn away, and the other pad on that same wheel is okay? If so, it sounds like your caliper slides are sticking. That's pretty easy to check.

Or, are you saying that both pads are worn away on one wheel, and both pads are okay on the other wheel? If so, the caliper piston may be sticking (time for a new caliper). Other, rare conditions can cause this too, such as a collapsed brake hose.

 

[FASTLLS]

And if it is a slide that is stuck, pull it out and put caliper grease on them and 'work' it around sliding the pin in and out

 

[Angel12]

On my drive to buffalo somehow one of my calipers seized it literally ate the pad and almost the rotor. Had tons of break dust on my rims. Replaced it with one from a scrap yard and it's been good ever since.

 

[tripolincoln]

joegr- its only on the left rear wheel the pad closer to the rim is good and the back one is grinded all the way down


so i'll try what fastlls has suggested hope it works cuz i only had my brakes for like maybe 3 1/2 months and dont brake crazy since i have some problems with it

 

[FASTLLS]

Defiantly sounds like a frozen pin.. Cheap fix.. Remember your going to need a tool to push the piston back in when you put new pads on..

 

[tripolincoln]

now may sound stupid but are the slides the pin your talking about?

 

[joegr]

now may sound stupid but are the slides the pin your talking about?

Yes.

http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x60003.htm~gen~ref.htm#extract_192

http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6x64004.htm~gen~ref.htm

 

[FASTLLS]

Yes.. When you pull it out, it looks like a pin.. The technical term is a slide..

 

[tripolincoln]

thanks guys

 

[FASTLLS]

No problem.. Let us know how it goes..

 

[RCodePaul]

Piston Retraction

Defiantly sounds like a frozen pin.. Cheap fix.. Remember your going to need a tool to push the piston back in when you put new pads on..

I've used a large C clamp to push the piston back in with success on several brands of cars.

 

[chris2523]

I've used a large C clamp to push the piston back in with success on several brands of cars.

sometimes you have to twist the pistons as they go back in. they break otherwise.

 

[joegr]

I've used a large C clamp to push the piston back in with success on several brands of cars.

That absolutely won't work on this car. The rear brake pads are also used by the parking brake. To make that work, there is an adjuster mechanism built into the pistons. The inner part of the piston screws out as the pads wear. To get it to retract, you have to apply pressure to it while rotating it clockwise.

You need something like this to do it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-piece-disc-brake-pad-and-caliper-service-tool-kit-97143.html

They used to have a cheaper set, some stores may still. It is in a red case.

 

[FASTLLS]

I have the red one (search ebay).. Works like a breeze.. The cube sucks...

 

[Villalta]

The cube is a piece of sh!t.

 

[Villalta]

I've used a large C clamp to push the piston back in with success on several brands of cars.

You can do that on the fronts but not the backs. you need the cube that goes on the end of a rachet.

or get the thing fastlls was talking about. which i just might get now!!

 

[FASTLLS]

or get the thing fastlls was talking about. which i just might get now!!

Totally worth the money.. Easier than pushing the fronts in with a C-Clamp using this tool.. I had both rear pistons pushed back in, in less than 2 minutes.. I swear by it..

 

[joegr]

You can do that on the fronts but not the backs. you need the cube that goes on the end of a rachet.

or get the thing fastlls was talking about. which i just might get now!!

The red set was/is $30, and worth at least twice that.

 

[FASTLLS]

I bought mine off of eBay because I had eBay Bucks to use.. But yes, well worth twice the money..

 

[Villalta]

Totally worth the money.. Easier than pushing the fronts in with a C-Clamp using this tool.. I had both rear pistons pushed back in, in less than 2 minutes.. I swear by it..

I wish I knew about this tool last summer. It took FOREVER to get those pistons go go back in with that stupid cube thing. Plus the cube has rounded little thing and they kept slipping so I had to file down the edges so it wouldn't move. PITA

 

[Villalta]

The red set was/is $30, and worth at least twice that.

Cool thanks I'll have to pick one up

 

[FASTLLS]

I wish I knew about this tool last summer. It took FOREVER to get those pistons go go back in with that stupid cube thing. Plus the cube has rounded little thing and they kept slipping so I had to file down the edges so it wouldn't move. PITA

I know.. I used it for like 5 minutes.. Then I took it off the ratchet and threw it across the shop!! Can you tell I have a temper? :shifty: