I need feedback on calipers.

[iAlex684]

My rear caliper is going bad I guess. I had a clunking noise from the rear and took it to Toyota to diagnose it and a rear caliper pin needed to be greased and they told me that if it comes back then my rear caliper needs to be replaced. Well now my rear brake is making a squealing scrapping noise when I'm not pressing the brakes and it gets louder when I press the brakes. I have some questions below that I would like answered.

1.) Any one ever experience this?
2.) should I get aftermarket or OEM caliper?
3.) I looked on rock auto, what is unloaded and semi-loaded caliper?
4.) How good are aftermarket calipers? Brand recommendations?

 

[wnelax04sr5]

what kind of condition are the pads in? sounds like theres metal contacting metal somewhere that usually comes when pads wear out, something accelerated by the sticking caliper

 

[iAlex684]

what kind of condition are the pads in? sounds like theres metal contacting metal somewhere that usually comes when pads wear out, something accelerated by the sticking caliper

Well before I owned it the brakes got done at kwik kar

 

[Morphyne]

If it were me I'd do a 5th gen caliper swap and paint them before installed .

 

[wsgoat]

If it were me I'd do a 5th gen caliper swap and paint them before installed .

I just did the 5th gen caliper upgrade on the wife's 03. I went with the 142 series caliper from rock auto....the 142 series has a Zinc Dichromate finish which is supposed to be more weather resistant than the crap finish on the 141 series. I plan to fluid film any exposed parts for added protection.

 

[iAlex684]

I just did the 5th gen caliper upgrade on the wife's 03. I went with the 142 series caliper from rock auto....the 142 series has a Zinc Dichromate finish which is supposed to be more weather resistant than the crap finish on the 141 series. I plan to fluid film any exposed parts for added protection.

If it were me I'd do a 5th gen caliper swap and paint them before installed .

If I didn't have 16 inch wheels I probably would do 5th gen caliper swap...

 

[wsgoat]

If I didn't have 16 inch wheels I probably would do 5th gen caliper swap...

I would consider upgrading to 17" rims/tires just to be able use the 5th gen calipers. If you look around, you can often find a nice set of seventeen's for short money. I just picked up a set 17" sport rims with 4 Bridgestone Blizzak's in "like-new" condition....400 for the set. Sell the sixteen's.

 

[morphious]

[MENTION=112286]iAlex684[/MENTION] I just replaced my fronts due to my passenger side freezing. I went with Autozone ones even though I have 17's and these were my reasons why: 1) availability 2) warranty (Autozone is everywhere) 3) cost 4) ease of returning cores 5) no proof that the 5th gen calipers won't start to develop seizing issues. Mine started seizing after 12 years of service so I am good. My 2 cents.

 

[Utopia]

I just pulled of my 17" sport rims from my 06. Would sell them too you for a good price if interested.

 

[skott]

My 2 cents...it just sounds like you need new pads, and maybe a rotor if the pads have cut a groove in it. I bet your calipers are fine and new pads will fix you right up.

I've replaced front calipers on my 2006 3 times due to them seizing (next time it happens I'm installing 5th Gens), but I've had zero problems with my rear calipers.

 

[verman84]

First, you might want to inspect your brakes to make sure you don't have a rock or debris between your pads and the rotor. It happens from time to time and people freak out thinking their brakes are busted.

So look at your brakes closely. Inspect the pads and rotors on both side and look for any differences. A stuck caliper might have fairly uneven pad wear. My rears were sticking worse than my fronts so when I removed the pads, it was clear that one was worn much more than the other when compared to the other side.

Also, try to physically move the caliper by hand to see if any of the pistons are giving you a hard time. One of mine was fairly easy to move in and out, the other required much more effort.

If you feel confident that you do indeed have a bad caliper or two, definitely consider replacing them. I prefer to replace things like that as a set so if you are going to do the rear, do both that way you know the calipers are of the same age, make etc. If you just replace pads/rotors with a bad caliper ... the problem isn't going to go away.

I really like centric stuff from Rock Auto, their core return was really easy and cheap considering you're sending heavy ass parts through the mail. I did all 4 (5th gen conversion) and it cost me $12? to send them all back using Rock Autos return slip. But as was said above, go for something painted. Whatever bullshit coating was on the 5th gen calipers I bought quickly turned orange after putting them on. I'm kicking myself for not knowing they made a pre painted caliper.

 

[Spiderjhn]

I'm going to post what I found when I did a front brake job on my 04 limited with 175k a couple of months ago. Complete brake job was done at 90k,new pads rotors turned,fluid replaced. When I looked both rotors had the inboard lower piston seized. I walked into a reputable shop and up on the rack was a 5th gen 4Runner in for full brake job. Centric parts on the floor including rotors and calipers. Mechanic was well aware of caliper problems on 4R. I don't know if the owner used his truck on the beaches or not here on the OBX but after seeing this I decided go with rebuilt gen 4 calipers with lifetime warranted. I'll return a caliper to advance auto if one freezes up. Good luck.