THSCC Forums

I knew my passenger side brake caliper was sticking a bit, but it's hard to quantify how much is too much.

Got home from work today and took out the pyrometer. Interesting results.

Rotor: 195 deg (driver and passenger sides).

Caliper: Drivers side, 140 degrees, passenger side, 240 degrees.

I guess that about sums it up, eh?

Scott

That's the same side my corolla had seized. I drove home from an event and the rotor was glowing red. I could find left side calipers everywhere so I ended up popping the piston out and cleaning the cylinder and reassembling the caliper(couldn't find seals either) and It works fine now with a new rotor and no leakage.

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beware of EV powered Ford EXP's they are quiet and come for you when you least expect it... hide behind an aluminum light pole...... ya that will help

I'd say it's time for a new caliper.

Is this the new or old celica?

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In need of car.

I'm really surprised that there wasn't a delta in the rotor temps.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Suprised me too, but the rotors are made to cool a lot faster than the calipers are. the car had been parked a few minutes as well.

Calipers are cheap ($35-40 before people use their employee discounts for me), and rebuild kits are even cheaper ($7).

I took it apart last night just to inspect and there was a minimal amount of varish at best. I cleaned the piston and ran some 600 gris wet-dry sand paper in the bore (lubricated with brake fluid) to clean the varnish. Everything is now working fine.

Now it actually seems to pull a little bit to the right (passenger side) under braking, I assume it's because the cleaned caliper is now clamping better than the other one - or just the crown of the road.

Scott

FYI,

I suspect Scott knows this but for you "new to brakes folks":

There are reasons other than just "piston sticking" for dragging calipers, especially floating calipers. Examples include pad backing plates slightly too big and corroded caliper sliding pins or other surfaces.

As a result of experiences years ago, I always make sure that new pads slide freely and file the edges of backing plates as needed.

Another problem I've only heard about is for oem style rubber brake lines to deteriorate internally in such a way that a "flap" forms inside the line that functions as a "one way valve" preventing release of fluid pressure.

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

I've had this "one way valve" situation happen to me before in an old car. Pump the pedal a bunch of times until it's harder than a rock. This should get enough pressure to expand the line some and get all the fluid to retract. I had a caliper hangin up so bad i'd have to drive WOT in second gear to even have a chance at keeping up with traffic at 45 mph. Every stoplight i'd just pump the pedal a bunch and i'd be a-ok.

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2006 Civic Si - #24 HS for 2015

2005 GMC Sierra
1991 318is Garage Ornament

mine was stuck because of the 1/4 inch of sand I found in it. since then I have completely redun the entire brake system

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beware of EV powered Ford EXP's they are quiet and come for you when you least expect it... hide behind an aluminum light pole...... ya that will help