Rear driver caliper sticking!

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Bizzy

SHO Member
Joined
May 1, 2001
Messages
13,222
Reaction score
1,462
My reply was for both of you guys just fyi. Bracket or lines. You can use a stiff round bottle type brush to clean the brackets out. I'd suggest using mineral spirits as well to clean all the old grease out of the socket of the bracket. You have to make sure it's all the way dry before putting more grease in there though because the spirits will break it down if you don't.
 
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
513
Reaction score
143
Location
Griswold,CT.
My reply was for both of you guys just fyi. Bracket or lines. You can use a stiff round bottle type brush to clean the brackets out. I'd suggest using mineral spirits as well to clean all the old grease out of the socket of the bracket. You have to make sure it's all the way dry before putting more grease in there though because the spirits will break it down if you don't.
yeah i did all that, the first time the froze right up because slider pins were not greased so i took it all apart cleaned it all out got new pins and rubber boots its not too serious but i know im losing gas milage becasue of it, it is driving me nuts lately
 

Bizzy

SHO Member
Joined
May 1, 2001
Messages
13,222
Reaction score
1,462
How does the system bleed? That'll give you an idea of whether or not the lines need to be replaced. If it bleeds fine then try getting some new brackets, they're not that expensive.
 

Bizzy

SHO Member
Joined
May 1, 2001
Messages
13,222
Reaction score
1,462
Nope, no machine required. You don't even need a second person but it does make it easier. It should bleed easy, at least from my experience it always has.

I'd be willing to bet that the rubber brake lines on yours are collapsed inside. They may look fine on the outside but the inside can be a whole different story. To find out for sure before you buy you can remove the rubber section and blow through it. If it's hard to get any air through them they're toast and need to be replaced.
 

93rev2sev

SHO Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
6,461
Reaction score
1,825
Location
Hockeytown
If you have an angle grinder, you can grind off the metal bracket that holds the line to the strut. Dont cut all the way through; maybe 75%. Then, use some plyers to spread the bracket and release it from the hose.

Here's what happens...

The brake line bracket is clamped to the hose. When the bracket starts to corrode, it expands against the hose, clamping it off. Releasing the bracket from the hose might clear up the line for fluid to pass through(always has for me). Just use a couple of zip-ties to secure the hose to the strut.
 
Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
513
Reaction score
143
Location
Griswold,CT.
everything is brand new nothing is old, i relined the whole car the only thing i did not change was the master cylinder, bizzy the rubber lines you are talking about i just replaced those with the steel braided ones, they are brand new
 

zak

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 15, 2002
Messages
1,770
Reaction score
497
Location
east of Hartford
93rev2sev, thanks for the interesting tip.

Note, to bleed rear calipers you need to make sure the hub on the drivers side is jacked up to ride heght in order for fluid to flow through the "proportioning" valve on the drivers side forward (rear) control arm

Also, I've noticed some aftermarket caliper pins seem undersized to the sleeves in the caliper guides - the Ford rebuilt brackets, and Ford pins are worth the extra coin IMHO.
 
Last edited:

Storm-Chaser

New Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2005
Messages
2,786
Reaction score
258
Location
Shit Louis
What about the ABS pump and proportioner valve?

Where those two items changed as well?

Another thing to consider is the condition of the steel lines themsleves. It is possible that you have internal corrosion that is physically blocking the line upstream of the flexible hose.

Below is a basic trouble-shooting guide for working-through and "bleeding-through" the brake lines to determine where the problem exists. Print it out, review it, and highlight the applicable portions for what you're trying to correct.


everything is brand new nothing is old, i relined the whole car the only thing i did not change was the master cylinder, bizzy the rubber lines you are talking about i just replaced those with the steel braided ones, they are brand new




Print this out and keep it handy when you get ready to start. This is not an approved or certified diagnosis guide
on how you should trouble-shoot or repair your SHO, but how I would approach brake issues if it were my vehicle.



I would start by pulling the passenger-side rear caliper and checking the condition of the slider-pins. If they're frozen or rusted and I'm able to get the pins out, I would try cleaning off all the rust. I've found a sheet of Scotch-Brite does a pretty good job of cleaning-up light surface rust - if the pins are pitted, I'd replace them. If in doing this it became apparent the pins were too far gone, I'd also buy a replacement bracket for $16.46 at Advance Auto:

Cardone Caliper Bracket (right/left rear, remanufactured)​

Regardless of whether the slider-pins were rusted or frozen, I would clean/replace the pins and pick-up a high-quality synthetic caliper grease - last time I checked it was $9.24 to $11.99 for a large 8-oz. bottle at most auto parts stores. I personally would use either Permatex (Advanced Auto - $9.24 for 8 oz.) or VersaChem (O'Reilly - $11.99 8 oz.) synthetic greases. While AutoZone carries CRC synthetic grease for $9.99, it is a dull black-gray grease compared to the green Permatex and blue VersaChem greases, which are semi-transparent and allow me to see when rust begins to develop during later inspections.

I've found it takes little time to inspected and re-grease the pins during every brake service, even if the service is to simply check pad wear. It's cheaper insurance than an oil change.... :burnout:




Next, I'd pull the driver-side rear caliper and check the slider-pins. Either cleaning/removing the rust or replacing as per above. When the caliper and caliper bracket have to be replaced - while the bracket and caliper are available as a complete caliper kit, I would check to see if it's cheaper to buy them separately:

Cardone Rear Caliper w/o bracket ($42.96 / $50.00 core - unloaded, right rear, remanufactured)

Cardone Rear Caliper with bracket ($64.99 / $45.00 core - unloaded, right rear, remanufactured)​


In pulling both calipers (one at a time), I'd look at the condition of the brake fluid that leaks out. Is it rust-colored, cloudy, dirty, contaminanted (particles suspended in the fluid), or clear. Make a note for later reference here.

If contamination is noted in either rear-brake system, next I would check the corresponding opposite front-brake system. That is if the right-rear had contaminated fluid, I would next check and bleed the left-front caliper. Why?

The ABS system in the Taurus is setup using two ABS circuits (a primary and secondary circuit). The master cylinder aft chamber feeds brake fluid to the ABS primary circuit, which controls the right-front and left-rear brakes. The forward chamber feeds the ABS secondary circuit, which controls the left-front and right-rear brakes. Thus discovery of contamination at any one caliper means that the contamination may be present at the opposite-corner brake as well, which is indirectly connected via the ABS circuit.


As I prepare to bleed the brakes, I would support the hub with a 9.5"-10" (241mm - 254mm) long block of wood between the ground and the lowest two wheel studs. I use a a 2"x6" block, but a 2"x4" block can be substituted. The 2"x6" block provides better support, as the wheel studs are approx. 2.5" center-to-center and a "finished" 2"x4" actually only measures 3.5" across. I have found that elevating the hub places the proportioner valve at approximately the same position as having a standard-height tire installed.

I'd next, make sure the master cylinder is full and continue to check the fluid level as I progressed. I'd get a helper to lightly press on the brake peddle to see if brake fluid is flowing through the flexible hose. If you get no flow, progressively (slowly) increase brake pressure until you do. The following are generalizations I start with when initially trying to assess a brake problem, after I have checked the caliper bracket and pins. If I were trying to spend as little as possible, this is where I would start next.

  • If the fluid flows easily, the flexible line is probably not collapsed.

  • If the fluid spirts-out like it's under pressure or not at all, the line might be collapsed.

If the fluid spirts-out like it's under pressure, break-lose the flexible rubber hose from the hard-metal line on the rear subframe rail and remove the flexible hose. I'd repeat the test to see if the hard-metal brake line is free-flowing, or appears restricted or blocked.

  • If the fluid flows easily from both the flexible hose and hardline, the flexible line is probably not collapsed.

  • If the fluid spirts-out like it's under pressure from the flexible hose (or not at all), but flows easily from the hardline, the flexible hose is likely collapsed.

  • If the fluid spirts-out like it's under pressure from both the hardline and flexible hose, the problem is upstream in the brake system, possibly in the ABS pump, master cylinder, or the lines themselves.

I'd then replace rear brackets/calipers/hoses as necessary. I'd pick-up a 32-oz. container of Prestone Dot 3 brake fluid at WallyWorld which is less than $4 a bottle, instead of wasting higher quality brake fluid until the brake problem is definitely corrected. Then I would re-bleed and flush the system with new Ford OEM Dot 3, or Dot 4 synthetic fluid. And for those of you that didn't know . . . .

. . . for many years, Ford has used a special "Hi Temp" Dot 3 brake fluid with a dry boiling temperature of 580°F. Most "heavy duty" non-OEM brake fluids have a dry boiling temperature of at least 475°F, with some as high as 550°F. By comparison, Dot 4 brake fluids start out with a dry boiling temperature of 509°F or higher.

Minimum dry boiling temperature DoT standard for Dot 3 is 401°F - Dot 4 is 446°F. So now you know why some of the forum members that track their cars, use Ford OEM brake fluid.


WHEN YOU ARE DONE BLEEDING THE BRAKES, LOOK AT THE FLUID YOU HAVE BLED/DRAINED FROM EACH LINE AND FITTING.


  • Cloudy fluid indicates chemical contamination or that the brake fluid is old - in either case it should be changed.

  • Physically contaminated brake fluid (particles suspended in the fluid) is easily diagnosed by holding the sample up to a bright light source. The system/lines should be drained, flushed, and blown-out or allowed to air-dry before refilling with new brake fluid.

  • If it is rust-colored, internal corrosion is present and could be coming from anywhere between the master cylinder and caliper. In this latter case, after the affected components have been replaced, the entire system should be drained, flushed, and blown-out or allowed to air-dry before refilling with new brake fluid.
:thumb:
 

Bizzy

SHO Member
Joined
May 1, 2001
Messages
13,222
Reaction score
1,462
Just as a thought, did you put new crush washers on correctly?
 

'94SHO

Towley rules!!
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
286
Reaction score
8
Location
R.I.
A way to bleed your brakes by yourself...
All you need is a 24'' level, or something approx. 24-26 in. long.
Move the drivers seat back until you can place the level between the lower seat front and the brake pedal.... Move the seat forward until the pedal is depressed firmly.. Be careful when doing this, you will need to tighten the bleeder(s) quickly using this method. I do the pass. rear, driver rear, pass.
front, drivers front. Then I bleed the master cylinder.. Make sure the part you are bleeding is NOT up in the air.( Rear, or either side). Front is ok raised, otherwise, this
can give you air pockets in the high spots.. (like the level I was using).. Good luck!:thumb:
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
107,087
Messages
1,181,312
Members
16,153
Latest member
lapochkarr

Members online

Back
Top