Farmer Joe

Just replaced the rear pads on the '99 Blazer. The old ones were only a year old. They were down to metal. Now the new ones are in the process of being burned off. I lubed the calipers where the pads slide. The caliper piston retracted back OK with the help of a C-clamp. Don't know what's up. I'm thinking that maybe the rubber hoses from the frame to the caliper are rotting from the inside, plugging the line. Anyone have any suggestions?

Farmer Joe

ajk114

Sounds like the caliper pistons are stuck/hanging up. Yes, they retracted when you changed the pads but a c clamp exerts a great deal of force and will push all but the most corroded pistons back in the bore. A properly working disk brake uses the slight amount of lateral runout in the rotor to push the pistons back and allow clearance for the pads. Assuming the caliper bushings and sleeves are lubed and slide freely, the likely problem is the caliper piston. I don't think the hydraulic brake hose is the cause of the problem. Hope this helps.