Frozen Calipers - How many others had this problem?
- Thread starter ssheftel
- Start date
V8Limited4wd
New member
I wonder how many people have not had this issue. I have to get my pads replaced soon for the first time (65k miles) so I'm hoping the calipers are ok.
V8Limited4wd
New member
did the dealer look at the brakes before anyone else or did another shop diagnose it first? I still have a few months left on my plat warranty and want them replaced if I do find them to be defective.
Will_4R
Member
It was only the dealer that looked at them. I brought it in because I was having excessive brake ledal travel and dimished braking power.
V8Limited4wd
New member
did you pay for anything?
charlier180
New member
I did the same with my '04 4Runner w/35K.
My driver side front caliper was siezed and was replaced under my platinum extended warranty. I had about $450 in out of pocket cost to pay for things not covered under the warranty (new pads, rotor resurfacing, fluid change, etc). At least the dealer took 20% off those costs. Still have about a year left on my warranty so I hope some/all the other calipers sieze so Toyota can pay for their replacements as well.
BTW, I find it VERY FUNNY that my 6 year old 4Runner's undercarriage has rusted SO MUCH and yet my 25 year old VW Golf has MUCH LESS rust. Same roads, same salt, just 19 YEARS more exposure. I guess VW could teach Toyota a thing or two about metals and rust prevention. I suppose in another year or so the 5th Gens in the Northeast USA will start rusting as well.
Front calipers 2003 4Runner
Just got done replacing my front driver's side caliper which rusted and seized. 2003 4Runner with 42,000 miles. Last year I discovered the passenger's side was frozen and had it replaced during a brake job. Hopefully the replacements hold up better than the OEM.
Obviously Toyota messed up the design of these calipers. My guess is the open top which makes it easy to slide the pads in and out also allows dirt to enter, but that's just a guess. Any chance Toyota will learn from their past mistakes and own up to this??
Just got done replacing my front driver's side caliper which rusted and seized. 2003 4Runner with 42,000 miles. Last year I discovered the passenger's side was frozen and had it replaced during a brake job. Hopefully the replacements hold up better than the OEM.
Obviously Toyota messed up the design of these calipers. My guess is the open top which makes it easy to slide the pads in and out also allows dirt to enter, but that's just a guess. Any chance Toyota will learn from their past mistakes and own up to this??
zerokool316
New member
i have an 06 4runner sports and mine front passenger side froze, the stealersjip quoted me at $1200 lucky i was still under warranty, the best part was my dealership decided to use my warranty for both calipers using my warranty cause they felt that the driver side was going to also freeze soon. so my boy hooked me up.:cheers:
nated05
New member
Just replaced my front pads and rotors over the weekend, 100k miles and the calipers were just fine. My old pads had perfectly even wear and I was easily able to compress the calipers to get the news pads on. Although the inside of the caliper pistons was quite rusty and filled with crud. Hopefully im good for another 100k.
V8Limited4wd
New member
it's good to hear some people have had better luck with the calipers... i'm going to get my pads replaced for the first time at 65k miles and i'm hoping theyre not seized.
New user here...had a frozen caliper last June - Dealer wanted 800.00 to do a front brake job while replacing the front right caliper. I picked up a rebuilt caliper and had the front done at Farm and Fleet for 300.00
All was fine for the first 2 months and now I have a pulse while braking. Now since reading the thread I need to relook at them.
brighton
New member
Add one more 4runner to the list. My 06 V8 Sport with 90k had both front, lower inner pistons frozen. I knew I had to replace the rotors because the were warped. And had a feeling that the calipers where not stopping as good as they could have been. I've owned the 06 since May of 2010 and the braking has always had the same feel. I have owned a few older 4R's in the past and the braking was never that good on them, so I never had anything to judge against. Now that I have changed everything. WOW! The braking is excellent for a SUV. Even with the extra weight from the bumper and winch. I bought rebuilt calipers from NAPA. $104 each with core charge. I'm very happy with the results. I wonder how long they were frozen to begin with.
stanleybb50
New member
I'm in the ''had to change the calipers'' club as well...
You'd think they'd do something! I mean it could end up being a safety issue that they could be liable for if god forbid a deadly accident occured because of the rotors.
Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
You'd think they'd do something! I mean it could end up being a safety issue that they could be liable for if god forbid a deadly accident occured because of the rotors.
Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
MidwestT4R
Member
Just did the brakes on my 04 limited. All four wheels but both the front calipers were frozen. Bought the truck a year ago with 80K miles. Brakes done at 92K. I spent 380 bucks on new lifetime pad, front rotors and rebuilt front calipers. The dealer would have charged a whole lot more.
So just make sure you figure out the casting number for your 4runner and ask the local parts dealer to have a couple in stock the day you do your brakes. You may as well make sure they are in stock because you will likely need them.
So just make sure you figure out the casting number for your 4runner and ask the local parts dealer to have a couple in stock the day you do your brakes. You may as well make sure they are in stock because you will likely need them.
MICA4R
New member
ThankX:reddance:
BlackWorksInc
New member
I agree, been asking around the shop and pickin' the older guy's heads. General consensus was that these sticking calipers are caused by the road salt, judging by the location of the majority of the posters in this thread I would assume that as well.
Something that might be worth while would be to have the caliper/piston assembly cleaned and all the seals replaced as well as having them either powdercoated or painted to help prevent the salt from getting in there.
I am going to assume that a lot of these sticking calipers are probably caused by the aerosolized road salt when driver munching up the boots and seals on the piston and letting enough moisture to get in.
I would posit and guess that a lot of you guys don't change your brake fluid often? Remember that brake fluid is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture in the air. Get enough of it in the fluid and combine with the road salt eating at the seals and you could have yourself set up for a seizing condition.
This is just my two cents on the matter based on what you guys have been posting and what the guys at my shop came up with.
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