Brake pad thickness and frozen calipers.

[Robs08Runner]

Hey guys,
My brakes are coming up on eight years old and have about 6mm left. I am planning on changing the pads and flushing the system in 7 or 8 months. Do you guys think changing the pads a bit early and flushing might lesson the chance for frozen calipers down the road?

 

[mlc2000]

Hey guys,
My brakes are coming up on eight years old and have about 6mm left. I am planning on changing the pads and flushing the system in 7 or 8 months. Do you guys think changing the pads a bit early and flushing might lesson the chance for frozen calipers down the road?

I'm not sure if it will make a difference or not. I had both sides freeze in the front, in different years. Both times I had some padding left, enough for another 6 months but I get snow and ice here so I like to change them before the winter comes (if they're due for it in my later winter). Obviously if they're due for a change in the spring, summer and fall, I wait as much as I can. I hate being on the icy cold ground doing this in 20 degree weather.

If you think you're going to keep your '08 for a while, you may just want to change the calipers anyway. Just my 2 cents.

 

[mlc2000]

I forgot to add, my first freeze came during a motor vehicle inspection. My pads were just changed 5 months prior and had plenty of life left. Since mine has 2 calipers per side, the mechanic told me that only 1 was failing and that with the other one working, he could not fail me on it entirely. So I passed and then got a new caliper after that.

My second freeze did have some life left but would have fallen in direct winter for changing and that is when I discovered my other side froze. Dammit, at least it was warm out and I could spend some time working on it.

 

[Robs08Runner]

Wow, you've had some bad luck there. The positive for me is that mine has only been in the salty conditions for two winters.

 

[mlc2000]

Wow, you've had some bad luck there. The positive for me is that mine has only been in the salty conditions for two winters.

Yeah I wasn't happy. I think my first freeze came in 2010, 2011. My second was 2013, the same year both my front wheel bearings went bad.

 

[46runner]

Hey guys,
My brakes are coming up on eight years old and have about 6mm left. I am planning on changing the pads and flushing the system in 7 or 8 months. Do you guys think changing the pads a bit early and flushing might lesson the chance for frozen calipers down the road?

Lubing the caliper pins might help.

 

[Robs08Runner]

I agree, those pins must let the pad slide freely. My firebird has problems with that. Will definitely make sure they're greased when it goes back together.