Frozen Calipers - How many others had this problem?

[ssheftel]

This seems to be a very common problem. How about you? Both of my front calipers had frozen inside pistons at approx. 48,000 miles of highway driving. Dealer would not fix - "out of warranty" and quoted me over $800 to fix. I went to an national brand brake shop and it cost me a little over $500. They told me that this is a very common problem!! Outside pads had more then 50% left as did the rear pads. The inside front pads were less then 1/8" thick.

Hey Toyota, you have a problem and should be responsible for the fix!

How about you? Have you had frozen calipers?

 

[offshorebear]

My driver side front was rusted to the point that it started to seize.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

You're not the first... What year? Where do you drive mostly?

 

[Nuke]

With 6 Toyotas (2 still in MY service) and just shy of 1,000,000 miles, I've never had a Toyota brake caliper freeze up. My average for brakes is about every 100,000 miles or more.

Had 1 freeze on a '96 Saturn after 120,000 miles...

 

[jstutz101]

Had my front drivers side caliper freeze at 89,000 miles. Replacement is a breeze. That hardest part was getting a new caliper.

A few things I learned,

1. Just because you have 17 inch wheels dosent mean you have calipers for a 17' wheel. (The size is stamped on the caliper)

2. Dont go to Autozone for a new caliper even if they are open on Sunday. They will unknowingly order the wrong caliper because their computer has the wrong part information. Although they are more then happy to take the old one back and try ordering another one that inevitably be the wrong one again. (Long Story)

3. When you finally give up on AutoZone to get the right caliper and go to Napa (or somewhere similar) be sure to note the "casting letters" on the caliper itself, you will need this information to special order the new caliper. There are two diffrent castings - 13WH, 13WL and 13WG. Mine naturally was the most expensive 13WG at a $150.00.

Might as well get new pads (AutoZone does carry the right pads!) while your at it.

Save yourself the money and do it yourself.

 

[scottm]

What part is freezing? Guide pins rusting?

 

[jstutz101]

What part is freezing? Guide pins rusting?

On mine it was one of the four pistons. The first time I noticed it I was pulling our boat and had to make a sudden stop. I noticed the truck pulled hard to the right. Didn't think much of it since I had to stop quick I thought maybe that was normal. Then later without the boat I noticed if I let go of the steering wheel and hit the brakes the car would pull to the right. Took the front left wheel off and noticed the inner brake bad was wearing crooked. Took the caliper off and tried to push the pad back in, on piston pushed in no problem the other was stuck. Now with it all replaced the car stops straight.

 

[charlier180]

How about you? Have you had frozen calipers?

Not yet but I get the feeling my time is coming soon as illustrated in the photos...

The company that makes & sells POR15 will love me as I have used their product on my 4Runner's undercarriage twice now since I have owned it.
The first time I should have just painted the entire undercarriage not just the areas that were rusting.
The second time (about a month ago) the 4Runner spent the better part of a day and a half on a lift while I did the whole undercarriage.

 

[jetboy1975]

Seizing calipers are a known problem on 4Runners. The lower front pistons are common especially if it sits for any length of time. It happened on my '03 and '04. (the '04 sat on the lot for a couple months before I found it and gave it a loving home ) Both had right front lower pistons seize. About $400 at the stealership for aftermarket replacements.

 

[bbumbles]

My wifes truck had this problem a few years ago hers is a 03 has about 90K at the time both sides had one out of the 4 pistons frozen costly even if you do it yourself.
Bill

 

[scottm]

How much time and $ for a caliper rebuild kit?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

In an effort to stave off this issue I do a little extra when I rotate the tires.

I crack the bleeder and compress the caliper to the fully open position. Whether it will help or not I don't know. It does do two things though: 1) It keeps my brake fluid fresh. Each time I rotate the tires I have top off the brake reservoir. After 'x' number of rotations I have all new fluid 2) It forces the pistons to make a 'full-travel', which over the long haul, will hopefully help to prevent seizing.

 

[scottm]

In an effort to stave off this issue I do a little extra when I rotate the tires.

I crack the bleeder and compress the caliper to the fully open position. Whether it will help or not I don't know. It does do two things though: 1) It keeps my brake fluid fresh. Each time I rotate the tires I have top off the brake reservoir. After 'x' number of rotations I have all new fluid 2) It forces the pistons to make a 'full-travel', which over the long haul, will hopefully help to prevent seizing.

When I compress the calipers to change the pads I bleed the fluid I'm pushing, don't want to push it back up the line. I have a little bleeder hose and bottle to make it clean and easy, maybe I'll do it more often like you are.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I have a little bleeder hose and bottle to make it clean and easy...

That's exactly what I do:bigok:

 

[cornedbeef]

Not yet but I get the feeling my time is coming soon as illustrated in the photos...

The company that makes & sells POR15 will love me as I have used their product on my 4Runner's undercarriage twice now since I have owned it.
The first time I should have just painted the entire undercarriage not just the areas that were rusting.
The second time (about a month ago) the 4Runner spent the better part of a day and a half on a lift while I did the whole undercarriage.

Holy crap..that's a lot of rust!

 

[Mark86]

Had this occur on my 03 and my parents had it on their 06. Very common from what I hear!

 

[Kmvreter]

In an effort to stave off this issue I do a little extra when I rotate the tires...

Yep. Check the link in my signature to find my thread on the calipers.

 

[K.C.]

charlier180,

I'm in San Francisco, CA...living by the fog & the beach and I think my under carriage looks pretty much the same.

CJ3Flyr,

I think I'm going to follow your suggestion.

 

[lbrunner]

Caliper

I had one seize at 63K right after I installed new front rotors and calipers. Tech told me the pistons corrode due the the quality of the material and exposure to sand, salt and water. Nice toyota will not do anything for this. 68K now, just waiting for the next one to seize.

 

[charlier180]

Holy crap..that's a lot of rust!

Those photos and others of the frame and undercarriage that I did not post were taken on October 30, 2009. Granted my 4 Runner is 5+ years old now.
Sad part is the rust started around years 2 or 3 of ownership. That is when I did the first application of POR15.

FYI, I live in Eastern Pennsylvania and my 4Runner does not get to see the inside of my garage at home. I suspect that others here may have similar amounts of rust on their 4Runners that they either are not aware they have or are ignoring. Sad to say my 25 year old VW daily driver has VERY, VERY little rust compared to the 4Runner. VW might have a lot of other issues but undercarriage rust is not one of them. At least from the mid 1980s going forward.