A front brake oddity

[brettmc]

A locked up left rear caliper and pulsing brakes prompted me to do a lil brake work on the ol 4Runner. How'd I know the caliper was locked? First was the smell when I got out of it one day after a 30 minute commute to work. When I got home that day, I put the infrared thermometer on it and it was a hair over 500*...the other 3 were about 150*.

I clicked on over to Rocky Auto and got the powerstop koe 2421 kit along with a left rear caliper. I replaced both rear calipers (and a fluid flush) about 2 yrs ago which is why I got the single.

I went to change the front pads but was piston-blocked. On both front calipers, the rearmost inside piston refused to move to the bottom of its bore. The other 3 on each caliper moved just fine. I found it to be really strange that both calipers had the same problem. IIRC, they are NAPA items, both replaced by me at the same time 7 years ago. Has anyone else had this problem?

I love my 4runner but the brakes sure are a weak spot in the armor.

 

[Slowgoat]

Lots of frozen caliper threads here on T4r.org

I’ve had a couple siege myself.

Some of us upgraded to 5th gen brake calipers hoping that would help, but in saltier areas some are siezing now.

 

[brettmc]

i didn't mean frozen calipers in general but more specifically the same 2 pistons seizing on both calipers at roughly the same time.

 

[Seymore Butts]

Do you still have the OEM front calipers? You can rebuild them easily and inexpensively. I think they'll be vastly superior to whatever calipers are sold at NAPA.

 

[brettmc]

unfortunately those are long gone.