Stretch Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Looking for a little advice on the best way to go about this. Put new wheels on my car yesterday and went to back it out and the front passenger brake caliper is stuck. Is it possible that it's just frozen with the recent cold days? I drove the car about 2 weeks ago and it was fine. Somebody suggested trying to drive it and maybe it will break loose. I don't have the money to replace them all really as I just bought a ton of stuff for it. Thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bastard Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Try driving it, it could pop loose. I would say its prolly from the salt on the roads and not driving it for a couple weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Try driving it, it could pop loose. I would say its prolly from the salt on the roads and not driving it for a couple weeks. Only real risk of anything breaking would be grinding down the rotors and pads right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bastard Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Its stuck clamping the disc? If that's the case you could always try taking the caliper off (if you can) and use a c clamp on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Its stuck clamping the disc? If that's the case you could always try taking the caliper off (if you can) and use a c clamp on it. Correct. I think I'll try reversing the car tomorrow and see if that breaks it free. If not I'll see if I can remove it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 You can also loosen the bleeder and try to see if you can compress the piston, if not then you def need a new caliper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dammit Charlie Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I would try tearing it down and reassembling it first. Depending upon the brake design, it be as simple as a $10 slide pin kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Tried moving it this morning. Moved it forwards and backwards about 3 feet. Did this about 8 times. Grinded like crazy but never popped loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buelliganx1 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 If it's making a grinding sound are you sure that you put it back together right? It's pretty easy on some designs to get things swapped around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 If it's making a grinding sound are you sure that you put it back together right? It's pretty easy on some designs to get things swapped around. I never removed it. All I did was swap wheels. Never touched the brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojoe Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I may be wrong. But sounds like disconnect the lines from the caliper and take the rotor and caliper off the car. Assuming the caliper can't not be Separated from the rotor. From there, compress the piston to separate them and then inspect the caliper. At this point, I would just replace it because I don't like to dick with things that have already been an issue. Reassemble and bleed brakes. It sucks and takes time, but you'll know for sure what has been done or is the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rl Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I never removed it. All I did was swap wheels. Never touched the brakes. Do the new wheels clear the calipers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianZ06 Posted February 23, 2014 Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 Do the new wheels clear the calipers? I actually just asked him that. They clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2014 I may be wrong. But sounds like disconnect the lines from the caliper and take the rotor and caliper off the car. Assuming the caliper can't not be Separated from the rotor. From there, compress the piston to separate them and then inspect the caliper. At this point, I would just replace it because I don't like to dick with things that have already been an issue. Reassemble and bleed brakes. It sucks and takes time, but you'll know for sure what has been done or is the issue. That's probably what I'll end up doing. More than likely I'll just replace the whole setup. Do the new wheels clear the calipers? Yea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FourString Posted February 24, 2014 Report Share Posted February 24, 2014 What is the condition of the brake fluid? It is also possible that you have a collapsed hose which is causing a fluid flow situation. If you take the caliper off then you could remove the pistons, clean piston walls and caliper bore, clean out the caliper cavities, and then reinstall. There really isn't much to a caliper. A rebuild is usually quite easy if you opt for that. It's messy, but easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 What is the condition of the brake fluid? It is also possible that you have a collapsed hose which is causing a fluid flow situation. If you take the caliper off then you could remove the pistons, clean piston walls and caliper bore, clean out the caliper cavities, and then reinstall. There really isn't much to a caliper. A rebuild is usually quite easy if you opt for that. It's messy, but easy. Thanks for the advice. I haven't had any time to mess with it yet. I'm hoping I can get around to it Wednesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoMeSomeFun Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 My buddy just had this happen to his rear calipers on his G35. If you figure out the least expensive route let us know so I can pass this on to him in hopes that he can fix his ride as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Are you positive it is the brakes? Are the wheels a different off set than your "old" wheels? Make sure the back lip of the wheel isn't grinding a suspension component........look for a shiny mark. Me thinks it's not a brake problem, and your interpretation is miss-leading the general assembly here. Let's not get to far into brakes before you are sure it's the brakes. A stuck caliper will not cause "grinding" unless there is no brake pad left, or it has fallen off if you have only driven a short distance. SECONDLY, make sure that NOT ONLY THE WHEEL, BUT THE WHEEL WEIGHTS clear the caliper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Are you positive it is the brakes? Are the wheels a different off set than your "old" wheels? Make sure the back lip of the wheel isn't grinding a suspension component........look for a shiny mark. Me thinks it's not a brake problem, and your interpretation is miss-leading the general assembly here. Let's not get to far into brakes before you are sure it's the brakes. A stuck caliper will not cause "grinding" unless there is no brake pad left, or it has fallen off if you have only driven a short distance. SECONDLY, make sure that NOT ONLY THE WHEEL, BUT THE WHEEL WEIGHTS clear the caliper. Good point. I'm going to put my other wheels back on and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossle Posted February 26, 2014 Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 Good way to eliminate the new wheels as the problem. I know it seems dumb, and I am sure we have all done it, but did you put one of the rear wheels on the front? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Good way to eliminate the new wheels as the problem. I know it seems dumb, and I am sure we have all done it, but did you put one of the rear wheels on the front? Nope. They're different sizes so I'd be a complete moron to accidentally put a 315 on the front. I thought of it though lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Little update... Just pulled the wheels off the car, and all 4 rotors spun by hand just fine. I figured maybe it just had something to do with the cold weather and the issue was fixed. Put each wheel back on very slowly and triple checked to make sure that nothing was rubbing or touching. Got all 4 back on, started the car, and one is stuck again. I should have just put the old wheels back on.. My own fault. Going to try the old wheels tomorrow and see if that fixes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farkas Posted February 28, 2014 Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stretch Posted March 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Just went out and threw the old wheels back on and its fine... figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rl Posted March 1, 2014 Report Share Posted March 1, 2014 Do the new wheels clear the calipers? .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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