Geico266

I replaced my calipers after replacing the rotors just to make sure they were not hanging up after being fully compressed again after years of running on a set of rotors that were really worn. After I got them off I took some compressed air and shot the pistons out. The pistons had crud around them and they looked like they could easily been hanging up.

My advise to all you 2nd geners out there. If you are bored this weekend take your calipers apart and clean up the pistons, or just replace the calipers with new ones. They are cheap.

Happy DTR'n.

San Felipe Bob

And while you are at it be sure to lube the caliper bolts/ pins and slides as well as the contact points..
Also check out some tips and pics in my Members photo section.

Take a minute to give your tires a spin to see if your calipers are dragging.
Check out this vid on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGHd5-j2TQk

SFB

TNutcher

hey question regarding the pins/sliders and the rubbers surrounding them. My rubbers always wiggle out... is something a hair off somewhere or is it ok? should i force them to stay there or just let them do what they will do??
Thanks,
TNutcher

JHew84

How cheap is cheap? , when I do a first brake job on a recently purchased vehicle I almost always replace the calipers for that very reason, I'll probably be doing it to this truck soon as well.

All good advice

TNutcher

anyone know on the rubbers??
TNutcher

San Felipe Bob

T Nutter?
Do you have single or dual piston calipers?

SFB

TNutcher

T Nutcher actually but yes haha that is my screen name.
And they're Single pistons.

TNutcher

San Felipe Bob

Testing 123
T,
I'm sorry about the miss spelling
Try this



SFB

TNutcher

that'll help them to stay in and work correctly? i have an annoying pull on the right side and i have a washer put on the pin/slider in order to keep that rubber on that side and the left i do not. just wondering if that could possibly be the problem. I'm replacing the hoses soon but thanks i'll clean in out and see if that helps.
TNutcher

smokeyram

for our beloved dodge trucks, i recomend replacing the calipers with every oil change.
naturally joking, but i have tried EVERYTHING. and still end up replacing at least one with every pad change.

GAmes

Let me see. Every pad change and only 155k miles. How many times have you replaced them? Do you do a lot of off roading or are you a jack-rabbit city driver? I've replaced my pads twice, the rotors once and still have the original calipers and lines. I do clean and lube the bolts every 50k when I repack the front bearings. If keeping them clean doesn't work for you try replacing the calipers in pairs.

San Felipe Bob

You guys with manual transmissions don't know how good you have it.
You get to use your gears to slow you down.
Those of us with automatic transmissions rely soley on our brakes.
Add in stop and stop city driving and you'll be lucky to get 12,000 miles out of a set of pads.
However if you lube the caliper bolts and contact points every 2,000 miles you can get 2 or 3 times that.
I got 48,000 out of my last set.
Thanks to the Dodge 1 ton rear wheel cylinders and the S*B boots.

Regarding the washer to keep the rubber bushing in place.
You may find that when your brake pads get worn to maybe about
1/4'' to 1/8'' thick that your washer will prevent the caliper bolt head from properly slide into the caliper.

Your best bet is to clean the caliper boot location as shown in my member photos.
Pay close attention to the grooves that the boots fit into.
Get them squeeky clean.
Also
Hot tip!!
Do not let the Caliper hang from the brake line.
If it accidently falls and is being supported by only the brake line ...You have ruined the brake line.
I set mine on a 5 gallon bucket when perfoming the cleaning proceedures.
You may also want to tie a small rope to it as well.
Then put it back together with brand new rubber bushings, new caliper bolts, new caliper bolt sleeves,and plenty of high quality disc brake lube.
Stay away from cheap lube or any type of regular grease.
Use only disc brake lube.

SFB

smokeyram

must not have gotten the joke. but in reality ive probably swapped out 6 calipers. biggest problem i have had is them locking up. sometimes i can get the rebuild kit to work, but the cost of a new replacement is worth it vs the time rebuilding.