Is my caliper toast?

Phil + Neela · **Joined:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:19 pm **Posts:** 73

So, I started getting a horrendous noise from the passenger rear brake the other day, so I pulled the wheel off at work and promptly went to get new pads at lunch because they looked paper thin. When I replaced them today, it was exceedingly hard to get my caliper to compress in order to get the new pads in. The driver's side was really easy compared to the passenger side one. I was also shocked to see that the driver's side pads looked totally fine...
I replaced both sides and it stops with no issue and no noise, but I'm VERY suspicious about the stiffness in the caliper and prematurely worn pad.

Comparing pads from each side.

Comparing the thickness of the inside pads from each side.

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lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Apr 22, 2016 7:13 am

My rear calipers were toast at around 90,000 miles. I did the rear brakes and as you say, it was really hard to compress the pins back in (even with the bleeders open). Once the new pads were installed, the calipers both stuck so that they were always applying pressure all the time. After about a mile of driving the rotors were red hot. I tried taking them apart and reinstalling, bleeding the brakes, and checking just about everything, but it turned out the calipers just needed to be replaced. I got remanufacutred ones from Napa and have had no issues at all since.

Phil + Neela · **Joined:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:19 pm **Posts:** 73

I think my wife just proved it for me. She took my Jeep for a longer jaunt than I had. I knew when she got home because I could smell the burning friction material from the brake pads. I'm driving her car today so I can pick up calipers. I hope this goes easily

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ajohns1288 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 22, 2016 10:00 pm

I just did my rear brakes a few weeks ago and noticed the same thing with one of the calipers being hard to get in. Sure enough after bedding them in and driving to dinner, I had the same smell. Of course this had to happen on Sunday after the parts stores were closed so I had to drop it off the next day :furious:

It should be a pretty easy job. Just unbolt the banjo bolt, rebolt to the new caliper using new copper washers, then bleed. It might be worth it to pick up some speed bleeders, they make it much easier.

turblediesel · **Posted:** Sat Apr 23, 2016 1:46 am

Both of my rear calipers were toast at 40,000 miles. The little parking drum brake shoes have been known to come apart shedding the friction material to jam or not.

Phil + Neela · **Joined:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:19 pm **Posts:** 73

I replaced the calipers and all seems to be well. So long as nothing catches fire during my one-hour commute Monday, I should be good to go!

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Scar0 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2016 11:54 pm

Good to hear you are back on the road again!

Is my caliper toast?

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