Front pads dragging on the rotor

[Pyral]

I was inspecting my front brake pads a few days ago and I noticed that my front brake pads weren't fully retracting.

When I spun the wheel there was still a bit of resistance, and I could hear the pads brushing the rotor.

When I drew a sharpie line across the rotor and spun the wheel, the brake pads rubbed most of the sharpie away.

My pads were also unevenly worn, but not terribly so. The brakes feel normal when driving.

What is causing this?

 

[brillo_76]

I was inspecting my front brake pads a few days ago and I noticed that my front brake pads weren't fully retracting.



When I spun the wheel there was still a bit of resistance, and I could hear the pads brushing the rotor.



When I drew a sharpie line across the rotor and spun the wheel, the brake pads rubbed most of the sharpie away.



My pads were also unevenly worn, but not terribly so. The brakes feel normal when driving.



What is causing this?

Do you have the return spring and outer clip in place? If so the calipers pistons are starting to stick a little.

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[Pyral]

Do you have the return spring and outer clip in place? If so the calipers pistons are starting to stick a little.

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What does that spring look like? The only spring I know of on the front is the anti rattle spring

 

[brillo_76]

Hmm. There is a spring that is a v that goes from pad to pad. Then there is a spring that snaps on the 2 pins that slide. Some folks pit 2 v springs to help with pad chatter etc

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[PlutosT4r]

Touching is fine, unless generating a lot of heat. Check all the pistons and see if they will retract. They don't have to retract all the way. Uneven wear means a stuck piston. You don't need the anti rattle springs or bracket thing if in a pinch. You need the two big pins.

 

[Pyral]

So rebuilding my pistons could solve the problem? I'm gonna wait until I change pads before doing that.

There is a pin that slides between the pads and the rotors to keep them in place, could greasing that help?

 

[brillo_76]

Here is the outer clip. I see the v clips are missing on this one of mine that is still in pieces

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[PlutosT4r]

So rebuilding my pistons could solve the problem? I'm gonna wait until I change pads before doing that.

There is a pin that slides between the pads and the rotors to keep them in place, could greasing that help?

I haven't tried rebuilding a caliper, nor would I. Last I checked calipers were 80 something bucks, they might have gone up since. I think you're good to just keep driving. The side that is rubbing, check for excess heat. If you feel a lot of heat check tire pressure. Otherwise you're all good. I've had a stuck piston in the braking position, and had to change the caliper. On my Sequoia, have had to change 3 calipers due to stuck pistons.

 

[Too Stroked]

There is a pin that slides between the pads and the rotors to keep them in place, could greasing that help?

I wouldn't recommend greasing the pin as much as I'd recommend simply replacing it if it's corroded. Why not grease? If you use conventional grease, the heat generated through braking will liquify the grease and let it run down onto your brake pads. As you might guess, that won't end well.

That said, Toyota does make a special grease for use on certain parts of a disk brake system. It resists heat very well. In the picture below, it's the product on the left. I'd still recommend new pins though.