Calipers Frozen? You bet!

[LB4Runner05]

Rear Pass Side Brakes Smoked bad today

Alright, just got back from Baghdad a few days ago. The wife had to have Pep Boys change the rear pads and rotors while I was gone to pass inspection. Today (four months later) the one side was smoking real bad while coming down a hill to a stop. At 108K miles the calipers are original so I am suspecting the caliper froze up and that the work Pep boys performed is still good. Anyone see this before? And do you agree that it might be the caliper?:gun5:

 

[Lineman]

Have an 03 with 59K miles. Just changed my front pads yesterday and all is perfect. Hope I don't ever run into this caliper frozen problem.

 

[JohnnyQ7]

my 1977 vette had 4 piston calipers and these would freeze up. I figured my 2005 4runner would be better. Twenty eight years later 4 piston calipers still lock up. As others mentioned you have have to anticipate you have to change calipers when changing pads

 

[Eastcoastrunner]

just did up front, calipers/rotors/pads. Now I'm getting some symptoms of problems with the rear brakes...jeez. 170km on mine, roughly 105k miles.
I've had a number of hondas too, they all had issues with brakes. I have an e90 330 bimmer and the thing is solid with brakes. Not only do the brakes catch better then any car i've driven, it also has had no caliper issues yet *knock on wood*
I'm starting to think the perfect vehicles would have the Germans do the brakes and drivetrain while the japanese did electrical and overall design!

 

[4Beast]

Looks like I have a front that's starting to freeze, damn near wore my pads to nothing and I have 30% on the rest. Do people favor just changing to one or figure they should do the calipers as a pair? My mechanic said he would do one, with front rotors and pads all around for just under $500.

As a side note, has anyone gotten parts from Rockauto online? They seem to have some really good deals for calipers and brake parts...

 

[sonerick]

Looks like I have a front that's starting to freeze, damn near wore my pads to nothing and I have 30% on the rest. Do people favor just changing to one or figure they should do the calipers as a pair? My mechanic said he would do one, with front rotors and pads all around for just under $500.

As a side note, has anyone gotten parts from Rockauto online? They seem to have some really good deals for calipers and brake parts...

I bought a front wheel bearing from RockAuto... great prices, fast shipping. Definitely would recommend them!

 

[2k54RUNNIN]

I just got done venting about my calipers. I was doing my brakes too and one of the piston has seized. From what you guys are saying, I have a feeling that I will have to spend more money that I don't really have right now.

 

[2k54RUNNIN]

Just went to change pads and rotors today... Guess what FROZEN on the driver front. Luckily advance has reman I just picked up - gonna be a project tomorrow... I bought the passenger side before even seeing if it's frozen or not as well.

I just don't have too much of a clue when it comes to bleeding the brakes.. Oh well, guess I'll be learning on the fly.

I shoulda just planned ahead to do the Tundra mod. Thought i'd be the lucky one..

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

All the threads I found about the Tundra brake mods, refer to 3rd gens, could this work on 4th gens too?

 

[kosan]

For those that had to replace their calipers. Did you encounter problems where you had to replace them again?

 

[stanleybb50]

For those that had to replace their calipers. Did you encounter problems where you had to replace them again?

In my countless searches, it looks like they can freeze again even with new or rebuilt calipers.

If I hadn't already bought the rotors and pads for T4R when I found it frozen, I would have definately upgraded.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

 

[jbx35]

Warranty Coverage?

Are these caliper issues covered under the 3/36k warranty? I have extended coverage of 5/60k as well. I'm thinking I better have mine checked out; getting close to 35k. I've noticed some hard pulls to the right occassionaly in stop & go traffic. Not sure what is up with that; feels like right front is only brake 'grabbing'.

 

[stanleybb50]

Are these caliper issues covered under the 3/36k warranty? I have extended coverage of 5/60k as well. I'm thinking I better have mine checked out; getting close to 35k. I've noticed some hard pulls to the right occassionaly in stop & go traffic. Not sure what is up with that; feels like right front is only brake 'grabbing'.

Def in 3/36. I'd look into it. You live in a snowy area that they use salt in? I'd take it in just for peace of mind if nothing else before the comprehensive is up.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

 

[skyliner4444]

Well, I just got back from having all 4 calipers replaced for the 4th time on my 2004 with 94k miles. Fortunately these guys (not dealer) replaced them under a warranty with their parts distributor as they were just done about 6k miles ago. The pins and calipers were a corroded mess, not to mention the pads were shot.

My first time was at 29k miles and I went through the dealer for about $2k. No warranty as the Toyota Rep. deemed the problem was due to "environmental issues" (I live in the northeast) and not a defect. He would not meet with me personally to discuss. No $ adjustments at all and Toyota HQ was worthless as they said the Rep. had final say. At about 48k miles the same thing. Toyota did cover about half this time. I went to Firestone the next time at about 70k miles. What a mistake. They never did fix them right after about 5 returns over a month’s time. They did reimburse me about half and I just drove the T4R until about 80k miles when the brakes were grinding with that metallic burning smell as soon as you stepped out of the truck. I then went to and independent place that friends had recommended. They replaced everything all around and the truck had never run that smooth since I bought it. After about 6 months I returned with grinding, red hot brakes. They replaced a caliper, pads, cleaned and lubed the other calipers, etc. at no charge. And 7 months later, brings me to today. Most of the service people I've talked to about this issue don't have any definative answers for a fix, but all have said they're seeing more and more brake corrosion problems with many makes of vehicles in the road salt areas.

It's frustrating as this T4R has been great. No problems what-so-ever....just the brakes. I was hoping to get a couple more years out of it, but...

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[4Beast]

Well I just picked up my rig after having the front brakes completely done (calipers, roters, pads, and 1 brake line=$730). The passenger caliper was really frozen and dragging to the point that it was almost metal on metal, and the drivers had one piston frozen (lower inside, the mechanic was quite surprised that I guessed which one right away).

It is so annoying that this is an obvious issue and yet Toyota won't step up to the plate. Kind of reminds me of the Subaru problem with one kind of their 2.5 liter engines always blowing head gaskets, but them never recalling them.

My new complaint is that with the new fix I have too much pedal travel before the brakes engage. They engage well once I get there, but are too slow to do so IMO. Anyone else experience this? Is it worth getting the calipers adjusted (if even possible)? I'm sure they made sure the master cylinder and fluid are where they should be, so I doubt that's it, and they aren't spongey and do not go to the floor or anything. I feel like after $700 I should be able to outbrake a 911!

 

[truckmike26]

Sometimes techs don't use O.E. shims (or any shims at all) and just use the anti-rattle goop/grease. Sometimes the replacement pads are slightly thicker or thinner. This alters the geometry hydraulically and these reasons might be why you feel the change. Small diffferences at the source are amplified when it gets to your foot. You can't adjust the calipers.

 

[fvalentin]

Has anyone had any problems with frozen calipers after doing the Tundra mod?

 

[4Beast]

strangely I feel like it is improved now. i can't tell if i just got used to it, or it is actually better. maybe something sort of needed to seat? who knows. I remember when I first got it the brakes definitely took some getting used to, maybe this is the same...

 

[jstutz101]

strangely I feel like it is improved now. i can't tell if i just got used to it, or it is actually better. maybe something sort of needed to seat? who knows. I remember when I first got it the brakes definitely took some getting used to, maybe this is the same...

I bet there was some air in the lines they didn't get out.

 

[4PlayinginOH]

I've seen the comments from folks talking about how the front calipers go bad with the lower inside piston freezing. So when I planned to do the brakes on all four wheels this past weekend I stopped by the local dealer to pick up a few pieces like the caliper pins and clips. Asked the parts guy about bad calipers. His response?

"Nah, they rarely go bad".

So yesterday when I pulled the front calipers to replace the rotors I found that not one but both calipers had a frozen lower inner piston. Tracking down rebuilt calipers for the truck was loads of fun on a Sunday.

Next time you get ready to do a front brake job find out which local parts store has the right casting of your particular caliper in stock. Especially at a good price. If they don't have them see if they can get some in stock on the day you do your brake job. Cause chances are you are gonna be driving there to get em.

I knew there had to be a catch. This truck was just too cool...

Good post. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[charlier180]

Had the Driver Side Front caliper replaced under my Toyota extended warranty last fall.
Hopefully the rest of the original calipers sieze before the extended warranty runs out.
Between the frozen caliper and some other issues (shifter & radio) my extended warranty has more than paid for itself.