Frozen Calipers - How many others had this problem?
- Thread starter ssheftel
- Start date
which aftmkt calipers to get ??
had my tech do factory pads and rotors today on the frontsand the damn lower pistons seized on both calipers..wheel was not turning that easily. called Toyota and they stated this was a known issue. I need to call around for calipers tomorrow and i am seeing there are a few different sizes out there with different casting numbers????? i have an 05 SR5 V6 4WD. with 17 inch wheels. what should i be looking for so i make sure i get correct calipers????
what casting numbers should i get? NAPA asks for this?
had my tech do factory pads and rotors today on the frontsand the damn lower pistons seized on both calipers..wheel was not turning that easily. called Toyota and they stated this was a known issue. I need to call around for calipers tomorrow and i am seeing there are a few different sizes out there with different casting numbers????? i have an 05 SR5 V6 4WD. with 17 inch wheels. what should i be looking for so i make sure i get correct calipers????
what casting numbers should i get? NAPA asks for this?
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sonerick
New member
I used 13WH for my 05 Sport. Easiest thing to do would be to just look at your existing caliper... the casting number should be stamped on it.
FYI, just replaced my driver's front caliper again this past weekend. It was a NAPA unit about a year old. They gave me a new one at no charge under warranty. The new unit looks like it has a snap ring around the piston seals (the old one did not have this).
FYI, just replaced my driver's front caliper again this past weekend. It was a NAPA unit about a year old. They gave me a new one at no charge under warranty. The new unit looks like it has a snap ring around the piston seals (the old one did not have this).
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stanleybb50
New member
I'm still running with my calipers with at least a frozen poison or two.. Gas mileage has been suffering.. Lol. Been this way for like 6 months now in guessing?
Want a better option still than the factory ones that will just seize on me again... I might buy them I guess and throw some silicone based anti seize on the pistons as a thought to get them to last longer. Ridiculous... The Achilles heel of our gens...
Want a better option still than the factory ones that will just seize on me again... I might buy them I guess and throw some silicone based anti seize on the pistons as a thought to get them to last longer. Ridiculous... The Achilles heel of our gens...
lehiguy
New member
16 years ago I bought a 1985 FJ60 with 172K on the clock. It had one frozen piston in one caliper. The snap ring on the boot was missing. That allowed crud to get in and corode the piston material which then froze in the bore. Using a HUGE amount of leverage, I removed the bolts that hold the caliper together. I removed the frozen piston, touched it up with emery cloth, reassembled the caliper and replaced the clip. Now, 16 years and 232,000 additional miles later it still works fine, no leaks, no freezing up. These are the same basic design. If the clip is missing, replace it. If it freezes and you have some dgree of technical savy, don't be afraid to try to bring it back to life. It's either you or some guy in China doing it, I know what my choice is.
sonerick
New member
Stock 4runner calipers don't have a snap ring on the piston boot. Some aftermarket replacements do.
lehiguy
New member
That may be the root of the problem.
absolute yota
New member
My fronts bth went when I changed the pads and rotors at 120k . Rears are original.
Dexter Morgan
New member
Are the symptoms limited to excessive heat (hard to detect in winter) and excessive brake dust? I just did a 125 mile round trip on relatively flat ground and averaged 20.4 mpg. My calipers are ok, right?
The symptoms for the rear calipers are different then the fronts. The rears are your standard one piston caliper...while the fronts have 4 pistons.
If the rear caliper is sticking...it won't brake as well and may cause some wheel sticking when accelerating. The front's...usually one or 2 pistons will stick...NEVER all 4. And when this happens it causes uneven braking that seems like a warped rotor.
I don't know the frequency of rear failure....way less I'm sure. It felt like a slight drag when coasting, no noise, pull or shake or any other symptoms. I doubt most people (average drivers) would have even noticed it. When I got back home I could smell the brakes and both rotors were hot as hell. Lucky me.
Sounds like you did have a stuck rear caliper...just that they are rare...In fact I've NEVER had a caliper failure on any vehicle before the 4runner. That includes my wifes Accord with well over 300k miles...and my Pathfinders with well over 300k miles...all with original calipers and working perfectly.
Follow up for MikeInNH since you mentioned this. I stopped by the dealership to get some info about the rear calipers failing and asked to speak with one of their senior mechanics. He said that although he couldn't be 100% sure, he couldn't remember having to replace a rear caliper...plenty of front ones though (no kidding). I think you are correct, rear caliper failure is pretty rare.
SSt4r
New member
Ok, finally had to replace them again (see post #222). I had found them starting to freeze again last year and got most of the pistons working again, but now the right front was dragging badly (pads mostly worn away too) and it was time to replace. Had replaced them with NAPA units Oct/Nov 2010. I was finally able to find both receipts & took them back. NAPA repalced both for free (lifetime warranty). Neither of the old ones had the retainer clips on the dust boots; just a definate groove for the boot to sit in. The ones I just got, 1 had retainer clips (with NO groove for the dust boot) and the other didn't. I'll see if there is a marked difference in how they hold up now.
I'm also trying something new: I greased all the pistons under the dust boots. Hopefully this will help protect them from moisture. We'll see!
New pads & rotors too this time.
Also I had one of the rears freeze back in Nov 2010 after I had done the fronts, other is still fine.
I'm also trying something new: I greased all the pistons under the dust boots. Hopefully this will help protect them from moisture. We'll see!
New pads & rotors too this time.
Also I had one of the rears freeze back in Nov 2010 after I had done the fronts, other is still fine.
stanleybb50
New member
I was planning the sans thing with the grease under the boot. I actually bought silicone anti-seize to do it. I might just use the traditional petroleum based however and say "eff it" next time I swap em, which should be soon.
Although, I'll most likely go with the Tundra swap when I change however. We'll see..
CNJ Runner
New member
I recently had my both my front calipers sieze. I felt decreased braking. took it to my mechanic, he told my there were frozen, went to toyota, I have a extracare warranty, they replaced them.
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