Question on changing seized / frozen caliper

[nysimonsez]

So the driver's side caliper seized again. I replaced it 35k miles ago. When I was driving home the caliper was really stuck, smoke was coming from the tire as it was really heating up the rotor. I got home and am ready to replace the caliper myself. I ordered a reman caliper from NAPA and plan to do the swap on Saturday.

Will I encounter any problems removing the pad and caliper since it's frozen and pressed against the rotor? Do you think I should still be able to pry the pads off the caliper and then do the caliper swap? I want to know of potential problems I may encounter before I go ahead when the job.

thanks

 

[lunchindabox]

If it is seized bad enough to smoke, it sounds like it is seized enough to hold the pads in place. I can't remember the set up, but it is possible to position a C-Clamp somewhere to push the piston in? Or can you just bang on the caliper in hopes it unseizes and then try to pry?

 

[zopperman]

Just use a pad spreading tool and some leverage.

 

[nysimonsez]

I am going to jack the car up tonight and see if I can turn the tire. I guess if I can then it should be loose enough to take the pads out no?

Before I notice the smoke, the steering wheel shakes when braking from highway speed occasionally. Should I assume the rotor is warped as well and needs replacing? What about the brake pads, I checked last week and there was 70% left on them so I don't really want to change it.

 

[Bob J]

So the driver's side caliper seized again. I replaced it 35k miles ago. When I was driving home the caliper was really stuck, smoke was coming from the tire as it was really heating up the rotor. I got home and am ready to replace the caliper myself. I ordered a reman caliper from NAPA and plan to do the swap on Saturday.

Will I encounter any problems removing the pad and caliper since it's frozen and pressed against the rotor? Do you think I should still be able to pry the pads off the caliper and then do the caliper swap? I want to know of potential problems I may encounter before I go ahead when the job.

thanks

Would think you could get it off without damage to the rotor.... One of my rears was pretty badly seized to the point where I couldn't get the pads out but I was able to get enough play to remove the caliper with the pads still mountedl.... Worst case would think you could do the same with yours....

 

[zopperman]

Would think you could get it off without damage to the rotor.... One of my rears was pretty badly seized to the point where I couldn't get the pads out but I was able to get enough play to remove the caliper with the pads still mountedl.... Worst case would think you could do the same with yours....

Also +1 for this.

Rotor is probably warped if you were getting vibrations.