Hi guys, i just wanted to know what would be some signs that a caliper might be stuck or going bad? any rubbing, ticking noises? pulling to a side?
i still have a bit of a rubber burning smell when getting out of the car, thought it might have something to do with that?
if it is stuck? how do i know? how can i free the sliders? thanks
fabs

 

If it is stuck, the brake disc wil sometimes (but not always) have a bluish tinge to it due to overheating since the brake pad will be in constant contact with it. Another sign is fluid leaks from the brake piston seal or brake line connection. A final sign will be that the piston cannot be pushed smoothly back into the caliper once the brake line is disconnected.

 

Hey Psaboic...well just after i got the car (last summer), the uys at the garage changed the rear discs and supposidly the ones for the hand brake too (the hand brake still doiesn't work). I noticed shortly after the the discs(not sure if both but the drivers side for sure) did change color a bit (bluish). I do notice the smell coming from the rear drivers side mostly.
if it is stuck, is there an easy way to unstick it? is there a spray or something i can put?
thanks
fabs

 

Hey chef, Sounds like you definitely have a problem if the rotor is turning blue. If the caliper is "sticking" there's no easy fix; it needs to be either rebuilt (and very few techs will do that anymore) or replaced with new or rebuilt caliper. May be time for a brake fluid flush while you're at it; should be done every two years or so. If the fluid is black in the brake reservoir, then it's definitely due.

 

If the calipers are bad the wheel will be very hard to turn because they will be sticking on.

Or the brakes will not work at all.

 

ya i will do the brake flush today....the fluid in the reservoir was perfect, but i'll do it for good measure.
I had checked the wheels for rotation..they would get between 1 and 1.5 turns before stopping.
thanks
fab