Another Brake question....

[Jerad]

Hey everyone... I previously had posted that I have been experiencing uneven brake pressure on the rear wheels(right side brakes about 3x harder than teh left). My initial thought was that it was due to the ABS system since the ABS light is on continuously. After reading a few posts, I've come to realize that when changing the brakes myself, I had, in the past, forced the pistons back into the calipers instead of rotating them... and this apparently is bad! I was wondering maybe if this could be the cause of my rear brake problem... thanks...

 

[naval-avi8or]

I've done about 6 brake jobs on my 94. Never have rotated the piston. I have the piston /brake caliper tool and it will not allow you to turn the piston while reseting it. My brakes wear just fine.

<small>[ May 01, 2002, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: naval-avi8or ]</small>

 

[Bizzy]

Jerad:
I had, in the past, forced the pistons back into the calipers instead of rotating them... and this apparently is bad! I was wondering maybe if this could be the cause of my rear brake problem... thanks...

Yes, this is a very bad thing. The piston is intended to be turned back into the bore. Once forced back, you run the very high risk of the caliper blowing because it will be damaged. I know from personal experience what happens when the caliper blows and it isn't fun when that happens. (Fire )

 

[naval-avi8or]

Bizzy:

Jerad:
I had, in the past, forced the pistons back into the calipers instead of rotating them... and this apparently is bad! I was wondering maybe if this could be the cause of my rear brake problem... thanks...

Yes, this is a very bad thing. The piston is intended to be turned back into the bore. Once forced back, you run the very high risk of the caliper blowing because it will be damaged. I know from personal experience what happens when the caliper blows and it isn't fun when that happens. (Fire )

Bizzy is right in regards to turning the piston I used a different source for the info and for the REAR brakes you must/should turn the. HERE is the step.
Using Rear Caliper Piston Adjuster T87P-2588-A rotate piston clockwise until it is fully seated.

I apologize for the bad info (I've never rotated mine until next time).

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

Funny you should have that rear brake problem. Due to some very hard driving during the Spring Zing, I heard Metal-on-Metal from the rear brakes. DOH. I'm tough on brakes. Had a tough time keeping up with REDSTAR and HUNTERVF on I-94. They were fleeing from me like they just robbed the quicky mart. (Ian: I could actually hear your intake from 8 car lengths away.)

Replaced both rear rotors and pads with updated stuff. I saw the piston had notches in it so I knew I had to turn it. I use a big C clamp and a pair of channel locks. The C clamp presses whilst I turn the piston. I have never been able to compress the pistons of brakes like these without turning them.

FYI, one side was much more worn than the other...infact the drivers side was down to the rivits (ie zero pad left) while the passenger side had some life left.

 

[Jerad]

Well, it turns out that the compressing the piston killed my caliper... my left is shot and naturally you can't just replace one... also found that my rotors are shot and pads are worn... ack!

 

[NEILL93SHO]

SAME THING HAPPENED HERE. I JUST REPLACED THE ROTORS/PADS WITHOUT ANY PROB. THE DRIVER SIDE WAS METAL ON METAL ..I THOUGHT THE BEARING HAD GONE.

 

[Bizzy]

IVEYSSHO:
FYI, one side was much more worn than the other...infact the drivers side was down to the rivits (ie zero pad left) while the passenger side had some life left.

Michael...make sure you check those slider pins and that the boots are fully seated. Very, very important to do that so that crud doesn't get in there.

IMO...when slider's go bad and are stuck/frozen in place...it's time for new brackets and pins. I've learned so much about the brake system in the last 2 years (& I continue to learn). I've learned the hard way....and don't put them off. It'll be worse ALWAYS if you do.

 

[SHOvit]

Thought I'd add a comment about my rear brakes, I did not rotate the pistons back in and ended up replacing calipers, but that wasn't the whole problem. My hoses were just about closed due to internal swelling, the hoses looked fine externally but I could barely blow any air throught them, new hoses, calipers, greased slide pins and the brakes are fine now.