Caliper Locked up while driving

Hexus · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:31 am

Driver's rear caliper just locked up yesterday while driving. I smelled brakes coming through the A/C and knew it was me so I pulled over and the driver rear caliper was completely locked up with the pads applied to the rotor.

Luckily the same calipers work for the CRD as the Gasser so it isn't that expensive. I believe I'm going to go ahead and bleed the brakes while I'm in there seeing as though I didn't do it at 120k as planned, it's probably due. It was done at 60k, lol.

Just not my day, I'm going to go ahead and change both rear and the hoses and rotors. Rotors are only $31, so it's cheaper to just get new ones than it is to get them turned really.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:09 am

Locking up like that on newer, post 1970s, disc brake systems is often caused by the piston in the caliper assembly absorbing brake fluid which causes the piston to swell and jam in the bore so the brake pad won't retract (somewhat different from the rubber sleeve problem with the front brake caliper). The only sure fire long term cure I know of is new calipers with stainless steel (won't swell) pistons although I've been told that the newer phenolic pistons are less likely to swell. Been there done that on at least 3 different vehicles. Seems to, but not always, be associated with doing a brake job including bleeding the brakes without replacing the caliper assemblies for whatever that's worth.

kjjet · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:25 pm

Hexus...If you have not changed the Emergency brake parts in a wile? Plan on it. Get it spring kit also. There is a two piece little arm in each side that rust together causing issues. They are only from Jeep, Very expensive. I glass beaded mine and re-installed with lithium grease.

Any questions let me know.

Good Luck

KJJET

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:38 pm

If the caliper stays locked up after everything has cooled down, the pistons are not retracting properly and you need rebuilt calipers. If everything is OK after cool down, it may be the rubber hoses collapsing internally.

DOC

naturist · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:33 pm

Sucks, but glad there was no further damage.

Couple years ago I had my CRD in the shop for some repairs and as I was sitting there, a family came in to the waiting room. It seems that their month old Ram pickup had suffered a brake lock up on the driver's side front wheel. The caliper had come loose, either because one of the bolts had sheared off, fallen out, or never been installed in the first place (no way to tell which), and when the driver had touched the brakes to slow for a line of traffic ahead, the caliper swung into the wheel, wedged in place, locked up the wheel, and they'd slewed into the median. Fortunately no one was injured, but it was close. Ruined the wheel, tire, and caliper, not to mention their afternoon.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:46 pm

I got my rotors from rock auto: got the raybestos top of the line ones, and akebono ceramic pads from amazon dirt cheap. I am very happy so far. Have 2500 miles on them.

kjjet · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:57 pm

When i first purchased my Jeep form the dealer the master cylinder was bad causing all the brake's to start heating up and stop the jeep. If you let it cool down it would go away. The dealer would not believe me. I had to drive it over and park it in drive with the engine running before they would change the master cylinder.

Good thing it was under warranty.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 10:02 pm

I got a complete rear parking brake kit from NAPA.

DOC

Hexus · **Posted:** Wed Sep 04, 2013 10:13 pm

Yeah, I did both rear brakes and calipers, and new rotors. New brake lines, new shoes.

I did the parking break about 25k miles ago and I went ahead and put some spray graphite on them after I cleaned them when I changed out the rotors. The only reason I did both sides is because I planned to next spring anyways, now I just have to do the front next spring.

Pain in the butt but it only took about 3 hours. I can't imagine what I could do with a compressor and some air tools, rofl.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Wed Sep 04, 2013 11:13 pm

DOC4444 wrote:

I got a complete rear parking brake kit from NAPA.

DOC

Got a part number for that kit?

arengant · **Posted:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 12:12 am

Subscribed for reference...

kjjet · **Posted:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 8:50 am

CATCRD wrote:

DOC4444 wrote:

I got a complete rear parking brake kit from NAPA.

DOC

Got a part number for that kit?

You can get the kit at any part store. The only thing you don't get is the levers. Over time they rust together and keep the brakes from working. They are a Jeep part only. Expensive!

Hexus · **Posted:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:07 am

The Kit Part # is UP 3199 for the Parking Brake and is $18.79, this does both sides.

Rear Caliper part kit is UP 83836A and is $12.39, this does both sides as well.

kdlewis1975 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:54 pm

I replaced all four of my calipers last summer. My rears were taking turns dragging and eating the brake pads. I was able to get a set of remanufactured calipers having metal pistons for the rear from RockAuto. However, I think NAPA carried them too for a while. So this option is at least out there. I couldn't find anyone with the fronts having metal pistons.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:38 pm

kjjet wrote:

CATCRD wrote:

DOC4444 wrote:

I got a complete rear parking brake kit from NAPA.

DOC

Got a part number for that kit?

You can get the kit at any part store. The only thing you don't get is the levers. Over time they rust together and keep the brakes from working. They are a Jeep part only. Expensive!

I am going looking for them. My parking brakes do approximately d!ck right now. Last time I was at Napa I asked for a kit and they just looked at me funny.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Sep 06, 2013 1:08 am

CATCRD wrote:

kjjet wrote:

CATCRD wrote:

Got a part number for that kit?

You can get the kit at any part store. The only thing you don't get is the levers. Over time they rust together and keep the brakes from working. They are a Jeep part only. Expensive!

I am going looking for them. My parking brakes do approximately d!ck right now. Last time I was at Napa I asked for a kit and they just looked at me funny.

To be fair I look at you funny.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Fri Sep 06, 2013 8:57 am

kjjet wrote:

You can get the kit at any part store. The only thing you don't get is the levers. Over time they rust together and keep the brakes from working. They are a Jeep part only. Expensive!

...and the backing plates. Anyone else had problems with them breaking loose and flapping around in the breeze?

CATCRD · **Posted:** Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:08 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

CATCRD wrote:

kjjet wrote:

[quote="CATCRD"]
Got a part number for that kit?

You can get the kit at any part store. The only thing you don't get is the levers. Over time they rust together and keep the brakes from working. They are a Jeep part only. Expensive!

I am going looking for them. My parking brakes do approximately d!ck right now. Last time I was at Napa I asked for a kit and they just looked at me funny.

To be fair I look at you funny.[/quote]
Burn!!

Hey seriously though, are you in town?

Caliper Locked up while driving

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