Quick Brake Question
stead04
06-22-2010, 10:03 AM
(I hope!)
OK, Last Weds, me and my wife were driving around town and we come up to a red light, I hit the brakes, and I hear that dreaded sound (Like there was no brake pads). I said OK, the car is going home (About 2 miles away) and no going to get driven until I get it to a shop.
Friday, it is the local shop, with me thinking that it is just brake pads (They are 16 months old, ceramic pads).
Aftera few hours, the shop called me with "bad news" saying that I had a stuck caliper and needed rotors and pads. (Driver's side caliper was not releasing pressure). And they qouted me a little over 600 bucks. I reminded them that they did the calipers, rotors and pads a little over 3 years ago and the rotors and pads again 16 months ago. And that I find it hard to believe that the calipers and all this stuff is bad again. They said you drive a lot and have put on some miles since my last set of calipers and it is time for a new set (Even though the drivers side is only sticking).
I told them to put it all together and I will pick up the car and drive it home (3 blocks away).
So, last night, a friend came over who does this one the side , came over to look things over. He pulled of the tires (no problem), pulled out the calipers and tested them (Using a "C: clamp and wood and the caliper pistons moved back in with easy, no resitance and they were not locked up or frozen) and pulled the brake pads. The driver's side brake pads look like they should at 18 months (And this is the side the "caliper that was not releasing pressure was one", but the passenger side was completly worn down and rusted (They look much old than the other set).
So, we tested the calipers like I mentioned, inspected the brake rubber hoses, they look reletivly new, the rotors look brand new (no groves, slices or anything).
We put new semi-metallica brake pads in, took in out for a test drive.
No noise, no vibration, no shuddering, no pulling to one side or the other. They were able to stop on a dime, took it up to 50 and brought it down rather quickly, and then did the nice slow stops coming up to stop sighns.
All in all I am pretty happy with the work.
my only question is this (Sorry to it took so long to get here)
After driving, if I touch the wheels (Inbetwen the the hub cap slots), the driver's side feels like a warm cup of coffee, the passenger side feels like a hot cup of coffee (for lack of better ways to decribe it). The brakes are not smoking, they are not a bright orange or anyhting like that. Just a some what mild difference in temp.
Is this something to be concerned about?
(Thanks for all the help in advance!)
OK, Last Weds, me and my wife were driving around town and we come up to a red light, I hit the brakes, and I hear that dreaded sound (Like there was no brake pads). I said OK, the car is going home (About 2 miles away) and no going to get driven until I get it to a shop.
Friday, it is the local shop, with me thinking that it is just brake pads (They are 16 months old, ceramic pads).
Aftera few hours, the shop called me with "bad news" saying that I had a stuck caliper and needed rotors and pads. (Driver's side caliper was not releasing pressure). And they qouted me a little over 600 bucks. I reminded them that they did the calipers, rotors and pads a little over 3 years ago and the rotors and pads again 16 months ago. And that I find it hard to believe that the calipers and all this stuff is bad again. They said you drive a lot and have put on some miles since my last set of calipers and it is time for a new set (Even though the drivers side is only sticking).
I told them to put it all together and I will pick up the car and drive it home (3 blocks away).
So, last night, a friend came over who does this one the side , came over to look things over. He pulled of the tires (no problem), pulled out the calipers and tested them (Using a "C: clamp and wood and the caliper pistons moved back in with easy, no resitance and they were not locked up or frozen) and pulled the brake pads. The driver's side brake pads look like they should at 18 months (And this is the side the "caliper that was not releasing pressure was one", but the passenger side was completly worn down and rusted (They look much old than the other set).
So, we tested the calipers like I mentioned, inspected the brake rubber hoses, they look reletivly new, the rotors look brand new (no groves, slices or anything).
We put new semi-metallica brake pads in, took in out for a test drive.
No noise, no vibration, no shuddering, no pulling to one side or the other. They were able to stop on a dime, took it up to 50 and brought it down rather quickly, and then did the nice slow stops coming up to stop sighns.
All in all I am pretty happy with the work.
my only question is this (Sorry to it took so long to get here)
After driving, if I touch the wheels (Inbetwen the the hub cap slots), the driver's side feels like a warm cup of coffee, the passenger side feels like a hot cup of coffee (for lack of better ways to decribe it). The brakes are not smoking, they are not a bright orange or anyhting like that. Just a some what mild difference in temp.
Is this something to be concerned about?
(Thanks for all the help in advance!)
inafogg
06-22-2010, 11:39 AM
slight difference in wheel temp is ok
was everything lubed & free
i'll guess you have a V-6 so brakes go pretty quick normal
was everything lubed & free
i'll guess you have a V-6 so brakes go pretty quick normal
Airjer_
06-22-2010, 12:00 PM
If the same side that wore out faster than the other side is hotter than the other side than there must of been some truth to what the shop told you. You'll find out in about 16 months or less.
stead04
06-22-2010, 01:15 PM
slight difference in wheel temp is ok
was everything lubed & free
i'll guess you have a V-6 so brakes go pretty quick normal
yeah, I wouldn't say there was a huge difference between the temps, like I said between a warm cup of coffee and a hot cup of coffee. I can touch them and not have my skin melt off.
And everything was lubed and free moving, (When the car was up even put in Nutral and the wheels spun freely and braked like they should).
was everything lubed & free
i'll guess you have a V-6 so brakes go pretty quick normal
yeah, I wouldn't say there was a huge difference between the temps, like I said between a warm cup of coffee and a hot cup of coffee. I can touch them and not have my skin melt off.
And everything was lubed and free moving, (When the car was up even put in Nutral and the wheels spun freely and braked like they should).
3100
06-22-2010, 03:28 PM
it is a clear sign that one side is dragging. Go to auto-zone buy both calipers brand new return your old ones as core they will be very cheap it is easy to install them. Both sides will not be more than 100$ maybe around 80. You will save some mpg in the long run.
thephantom1492
06-22-2010, 09:58 PM
Inspect the bushing on the calliper assembly, the place where you put the 2 bolts.
They MUST move freely. if they are not then only one side will apply pressure. You will get premature wear and unever wear. It could also make one side not fully release the pressure too.
As for the heat difference, you can have some difference, but shouln't be much. The difference can be caused by the difference in distance, specially when you break and turn (the outside turn more than the inside) and a few other factors.
They MUST move freely. if they are not then only one side will apply pressure. You will get premature wear and unever wear. It could also make one side not fully release the pressure too.
As for the heat difference, you can have some difference, but shouln't be much. The difference can be caused by the difference in distance, specially when you break and turn (the outside turn more than the inside) and a few other factors.
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