No More Caliper Freeze.....I hope!

[natevans65]

Pic of the newly installed Napa 4 Piston Calipers. Pretty simple job, but no more OEM calipers from Toyota. Should have learned that the first go-around but...I have now corrected the infamous freezing issue. One thing I did notice on the Napa brand, they have snap rings around the rubber piston boots to keep dust/water out of the piston area. Not sure it will totally solve the rusting, but it will help. They also come pre-painted black so will see how long that will last. I just did not have the time to do the proper painting on them this time. Anyway...any questions, please ask.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

I'm liking 'em. Reminds me that I need to get some new calipers. I was looking at the TRD Big brakes, any opinion?

 

[Krazynative]

Which ones did you get and how much were they?

I am about to replace my front pads and rotors and might need to replace the calipers as well.

 

[AleksV]

why no to oem toyota calipers? I was actually planning on getting the oem calipers, because I recently did timing belt and got the kit at Napa, and that ****ed me hard, as they had a ****ty WP, so went with toyota oem.

 

[bvc]

why no to oem toyota calipers? I was actually planning on getting the oem calipers, because I recently did timing belt and got the kit at Napa, and that ****ed me hard, as they had a ****ty WP, so went with toyota oem.

The oem ones are notorious for having frozen pistons.

 

[jstutz101]

The way I understand it is they are all OE calipers, there just rebuilt. I've replaced a NAPA caliper. Not sure how long brake calipers have been around but you would think Toyota would have them figured out by now!

I purchased my last two calipers from Amazon.com of all places. Best price I could find.

Raybestos FRC11553 Professional Grade Remanufactured, Semi-Loaded Disc Brake Caliper : Amazon.com : Automotive

No core charge and free shipping with Amazon Prime. I save the link in my favorites because i'm sure I'll be needing them again.

 

[sonerick]

Most calipers are remanned OEM units. The NAPA ones are as well, but come with a better finish and what appears to be better seals.

I think the key here is get a caliper that comes with a lifetime warranty. NAPA, Duralast, etc. Chances are that they are going to freeze up again, but at least you won't have to pay for another caliper.

 

[robhurlburt]

The way I understand it is they are all OE calipers, there just rebuilt. I've replaced a NAPA caliper. Not sure how long brake calipers have been around but you would think Toyota would have them figured out by now!

I purchased my last two calipers from Amazon.com of all places. Best price I could find.

Raybestos FRC11553 Professional Grade Remanufactured, Semi-Loaded Disc Brake Caliper : Amazon.com : Automotive

No core charge and free shipping with Amazon Prime. I save the link in my favorites because i'm sure I'll be needing them again.

no lifetime warranty that i can see.....

advance is cheaper, especially with the coupon codes all over the internet. lifetime warranty too.

 

[HokieRunner]

The calipers are all the same manufacturer or certainly appear to be unless you go big brake aftermarket.

I replaced both fronts w/ Napa about 35k ago and have already replaced one under warranty. So, unless you go with crazy cool and expensive big brake kits, get calipers with a warranty because chances are you'll be replacing them again.

 

[450exc115]

The calipers are all the same manufacturer or certainly appear to be unless you go big brake aftermarket.

I replaced both fronts w/ Napa about 35k ago and have already replaced one under warranty. So, unless you go with crazy cool and expensive big brake kits, get calipers with a warranty because chances are you'll be replacing them again.

I would argue the big brakes kits offer no garentee that you won't have caliper problems. I've worked on several Brembo calipers and all of them have problems with frozen brake pins and sometimes frozen bleeders. Liberal amounts of antisieze early in life help guard against alum/steel corrosion which is the typical cause of failure in the BBKs.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Maybe I am just lucky but my original calipers are still going strong after 10 years. I do change the brake fluild every couple years. I do not know if that helps. I also live in the desert so little rain and no snow but lots of dirt and dust from off road use.

 

[jstutz101]

Maybe I am just lucky but my original calipers are still going strong after 10 years. I do change the brake fluild every couple years. I do not know if that helps. I also live in the desert so little rain and no snow but lots of dirt and dust from off road use.

I bet road salt in the winter is caliper killer. I hate snow!

 

[MikeInNH]

I've worked on several Brembo calipers and all of them have problems with frozen brake pins and sometimes frozen bleeders.

All calipers have this problem. But I don't consider it a problem. Pins I clean before I reuse them..or I replace them. Add a light coat of good grease and they usually are fine until the next pad change. The bleeders always get stuck...but PB-Blaster works wonders.

The Frozen pistons however is NOT common. In fact I've only seen a frozen piston once..and that was on a 1970 Toyota Corona. This setup with the 4runner and the 4-pistons seems to be prone to this issue. My Pathfinders all had the original calipers when I sold them. One had over 300k miles..the other over 450k miles. And NH does get it's fair amount of snow and road-salt. We don't seem to have this problem with the rear calipers. I personally think this is a design flaw. I'm not happy about it..but at least the job is pretty easy. I can replace a front caliper in 30 minutes. The cost isn't that high. It's more of nuisance. If I had to pay someone to replace the calipers each time..then I might have a different attitude.
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