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Stuck Brake caliper
- Thread starter kat
- Start date
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- Nov 3, 2003
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What is stuck, and which type of caliper?
Front wheel I assume? If so, is it a GM swap, or a '76-later Ford setup?
Oddly this has come up a bit lately. I just got bit by it myself the other night racing over to meet a bunch of Bronco buddies. Smoke out the side and that crazy smell that's somewhere between rubber and electrical, but I made it! (out of blind desire to not miss a gathering, more than any common sense)!
I have the GM swap.
Paul
Front wheel I assume? If so, is it a GM swap, or a '76-later Ford setup?
Oddly this has come up a bit lately. I just got bit by it myself the other night racing over to meet a bunch of Bronco buddies. Smoke out the side and that crazy smell that's somewhere between rubber and electrical, but I made it! (out of blind desire to not miss a gathering, more than any common sense)!
I have the GM swap.
Paul
SteveL
Huge chevy guy
What's stuck? Piston, mounting bolt or bolts, bleeder? For most I've just used wd-40 because I had it nearby.
Hi, if the piston is frozen, or very hard to retract, you need to rebuild it or replace it.
Clean and lube all the contact points every brake job.
Good luck
Clean and lube all the contact points every brake job.
Good luck
Sorry I was vague, but its a stock ford disc brake caliper piston that is stuck. It has been in the weather for a couple of months still hooked to the brake lines while I was working on it. It worked fine before it sat up so Im assuming I could spray something around the piston and free it up. Thanks
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Maybe. But if moisture inside caused the piston to rust hard enough into the caliper, you're likely not going to get full results from WD I would not think.
But it's always worth trying initially!
If the piston is cocked off to one side that will do it too. Not as common on Ford calipers in the old days, I've heard of it more and more often as parts quality gets crappier and crappier.
Just like we never had to shim a Ford starter, but now they even keep Ford starter shims on the HELP rack in the parts stores!
Definitely worth a shot. Even of some more penetrating oriented lubricants if you have them.
If that doesn't work, then I think Plan-B is a new caliper.
Unless you want to take it apart and fix it yourself that is. I'm sure that's still a legit method of rebuilding calipers.
Paul
But it's always worth trying initially!
If the piston is cocked off to one side that will do it too. Not as common on Ford calipers in the old days, I've heard of it more and more often as parts quality gets crappier and crappier.
Just like we never had to shim a Ford starter, but now they even keep Ford starter shims on the HELP rack in the parts stores!
Definitely worth a shot. Even of some more penetrating oriented lubricants if you have them.
If that doesn't work, then I think Plan-B is a new caliper.
Unless you want to take it apart and fix it yourself that is. I'm sure that's still a legit method of rebuilding calipers.
Paul
Steve83
Bronco Guru
That's still vague. How did you determine that it's stuck? Where exactly are you seeing something not moving that should be? Did you take the caliper off the rotor & watch it while someone pressed the pedal?
Generally, if something in the brake system isn't moving right, either disassemble/clean/lube it properly; or replace it. Don't take chances - brakes are critical.
blubuckaroo
Grease Monkey
Whenever you replace the pads, you have to depress the piston. I use a big "C" clamp. If the piston doesn't move quite easily, it's stuck.
Time for a rebuild.
Time for a rebuild.
Phenolic or steel caliper pistons? While phenolic don't rust, I've seen them do some other funky stuff inside calipers.
I don't think they are steel. But I will double check when I take them back off. I usually use a c- clamp to depress the piston for the new brake pads but I was at a friends when I did it and all he had was a big pair of channel locks. So it my be cocked. I did notice as I bled them the bleeder seems stopped up with mud, going to investigate that to. Thanks
DJBRONCO
Jr. Member
I think I have this same problem. My right front caliper is sticking just a little. Frees up once it cools down but once on the road its starts to grab or hang on. It's almost worn the pads down on the right side where the left still has a ton of life left. I'm replacing both calipers and pads but really don't know what the heck I have. I remember the previous owner saying it was a GM kit he used to convert to disc but how do I know which calipers to get as a replacement?
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If the calipers are held to a stamped steel plate bracket with two slider pins, it's a GM setup from the early '70's models.
My go-to replacement model is to use '75 K5 Blazer as the source.
If the calipers are any other mounting type, they are likely '76 to '79 Ford F150/Bronco and are held in place by a single anchor bolt holding a locking slider in place.
It's actually a very clever arrangement and I like them a lot.
But the GM swap is way more prevalent, so likely your PO was correct about that.
If in doubt though, take some pics and we can tell you for sure.
Or check out some of the threads pictures of the setup and you can compare to yours.
Paul
My go-to replacement model is to use '75 K5 Blazer as the source.
If the calipers are any other mounting type, they are likely '76 to '79 Ford F150/Bronco and are held in place by a single anchor bolt holding a locking slider in place.
It's actually a very clever arrangement and I like them a lot.
But the GM swap is way more prevalent, so likely your PO was correct about that.
If in doubt though, take some pics and we can tell you for sure.
Or check out some of the threads pictures of the setup and you can compare to yours.
Paul
DJBRONCO
Jr. Member
Thanks Paul. At a glance it does look like the GM set up you describe. i'll get the wheel back off and take so pics so i can be sure. Thanks for the help.
DJBRONCO
Jr. Member
Well I took some crappy pics of the calipers but i can't figure out how to post them without paying a fee. WTH. It's been so long since i've been on this site i can't remember how the hell to post up a picture of this dang caliper. I'm going nuts. Even searched posting pictures and didn't find anything. Do you have to pay to post pics now?
Steve83
Bronco Guru
Click this & read the first several posts:
http://www.supermotors.net/forums/thid-5972-how-do-i-post-pictures-sounds-and-or-videos
http://www.supermotors.net/forums/thid-5972-how-do-i-post-pictures-sounds-and-or-videos
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You can use a free hosting site like Steve does, or add them to your Garage or Gallery like it looks like you have set up already.
If you want some posted directly to the thread without using another site, and don't think the 12 bucks a year would be worth it to you at this point, you can e-mail them to me at paulb@wildhorses4x4.com and I can add them for you.
All of the above work well.
Paul
If you want some posted directly to the thread without using another site, and don't think the 12 bucks a year would be worth it to you at this point, you can e-mail them to me at paulb@wildhorses4x4.com and I can add them for you.
All of the above work well.
Paul
DJBRONCO
Jr. Member
Got it. I"ve added them to my garage. I've posted several pic before but I've been off the forums for so long I couldn't remember what to do. Check out those garage pics and let me know if you can tell what those are off of. I think they are GM but hope one of you guys that know better than I can confirm. Thanks in advance for the help.
DJBRONCO
Jr. Member
Thanks Paul. Would that 75 K5 Blazer caliper work?
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Your pictures are a little bit fuzzy, but yes it looks like roughly the same one.
At first I thought it might be different, but when I went out to look at the one I had in the box there were too many similarities and it's probably just one manufacturer's casting vs anothers.
Or it's fuzzy enough I'm not seeing all the details.
If it's the same then yes, the '75 K5 (basically the '73-'76 K5/K10 should be the same) is a good donor source.
I never use '76 because that's when there was a change and it could have been mid-year and cause issues. As long as you use the earlier one, you're good.
If you can take some clearer and more well lit images of the whole caliper we might be able to see anything that says otherwise. Until that though, it seems like what you have.
Paul
At first I thought it might be different, but when I went out to look at the one I had in the box there were too many similarities and it's probably just one manufacturer's casting vs anothers.
Or it's fuzzy enough I'm not seeing all the details.
If it's the same then yes, the '75 K5 (basically the '73-'76 K5/K10 should be the same) is a good donor source.
I never use '76 because that's when there was a change and it could have been mid-year and cause issues. As long as you use the earlier one, you're good.
If you can take some clearer and more well lit images of the whole caliper we might be able to see anything that says otherwise. Until that though, it seems like what you have.
Paul
