Sadly seized rear caliper, smoking hot

[hinmo24t]

I say sadly because as much credit ive given the truck and encouragement to keep and investment into it as my daily and offroader...i just seized another caliper. My 5th or 6th in 3ish years. My indi mechanic gets me new coated calipers etc and wont jist change 1 rotor or pad. Its always a caliper 2 rotos and 2 pads. Always hundreds of dollars

This one I pulled in garage and saw white smoke coming off rotors near my gas tank. Sizzling. Rims were warm if not hot. Get this...after a 15 min ride for a pizza let alone a highway commute not realising...

Im so confused and distraught. Been talking about getting another rig because of these brakes. Wish i didnt jist order a winch and bumper $$ because now i just checked. its been like 2.5 years and ive done 5 calipers at $500 each time (coordinate rides to work, dog daycare etc.) what feels like every 6 mos if not 4. in hindsight for $2500 id have got some nice brakes aftermarket (?) or considered learning how to bleed brake systems and work on them often. it works out to roughly $100 a month for my brakes, 2004 4runner. i could possibly sell my new winch and victory4x4 bumper at a discount and a few parts off my rig and get into a tacoma of similar year, trd 2003 or second gens, jeep cherokee, tj or mostly outright buy a jeep of some sort used jk/rubi/tj rubi (would finance 5-10k) or a model w the dana 44 rear and 410s like willys or sahara

my brake fluid level and quality look good btw

Happy New year

 

[DMV4runner]

I say sadly because as much credit I've given the truck and encouragement to keep and investment into it as my daily and offroader...i just seized another caliper. My 5th or 6th in 3ish years. My indi mechanic gets me new coated calipers etc and wont jist change 1 rotor or pad. Its always a caliper 2 rotos and 2 pads. Always hundreds of dollars

This one I pulled in garage and saw white smoke coming off rotors near my gas tank. Sizzling. Rims were warm if not hot. Get this...after a 15 min ride for a pizza let alone a highway commute not realising...

Im so confused and distraught. Been talking about getting another rig because of these brakes. Wish i didnt jist order a winch and bumper $$ because now i just checked. its been like 2.5 years and ive done 5 calipers at $500 each time (coordinate rides to work, dog daycare etc.) what feels like every 6 mos if not 4. in hindsight for $2500 id have got some nice brakes aftermarket (?) or considered learning how to bleed brake systems and work on them often. it works out to roughly $100 a month for my brakes, 2004 4runner. i could possibly sell my new winch and victory4x4 bumper at a discount and a few parts off my rig and get into a tacoma of similar year, trd 2003 or second gens, jeep cherokee, tj or mostly outright buy a jeep of some sort used jk/rubi/tj rubi (would finance 5-10k) or a model w the dana 44 rear and 410s like willys or sahara

my brake fluid level and quality look good btw

Happy New year

Happy New Year

Sorry to hear about the horrible experience with your vehicle. Part of the issues could be your location combined with snow and salt. I'm here in the DMV and we have some of the same conditions. Just not as bad.
Because of that, I decided to go with remanufactured calibers from NAPA. They aren't super expensive and come with a lifetime replacement warranty. So buy once and once only. I'm on my second set.

There are lots of videos on Youtube and here on the forum that can help with changing your calibers, brakes, and bleeding your system. Members here are pretty good at answering questions and giving suggestions. If you have minimal mechanical skills and tools, you should give it a shot.

Put out a feeler here to see if there is someone who lives in your area and has time to help.

Good luck with keeping it running.
Happy New Year

 

[Drcoffee]

Because the brand of caliper he uses is crap. Go to rockauto.com, and buy the two calipers from Cardone ULTRA series coated. They have a 10 year warranty. Buy the akebono pads and Brembo new rotors. Then take the parts to a new mechanic to install or learn to do them yourself.

I have noticed the warranty on some rebuilt calipers is only 12-24 months. Before buying,
look for the longest warranty period. That will tell you about the quality of thr parts they used.

One more lesson I learned over the decades is that the rubber flex lines corrode from the inside. Thats correct. The inner steel mesh can corrode and expand into the fluid path. This will close the lumen of the hose preventing the calipers from backing off after braking. They should only cost $15 each but worth including in the parts list. I know this from experience.

 

[importman]

I say sadly because as much credit ive given the truck and encouragement to keep and investment into it as my daily and offroader...i just seized another caliper. My 5th or 6th in 3ish years. My indi mechanic gets me new coated calipers etc and wont jist change 1 rotor or pad. Its always a caliper 2 rotos and 2 pads. Always hundreds of dollars

This one I pulled in garage and saw white smoke coming off rotors near my gas tank. Sizzling. Rims were warm if not hot. Get this...after a 15 min ride for a pizza let alone a highway commute not realising...

Im so confused and distraught. Been talking about getting another rig because of these brakes. Wish i didnt jist order a winch and bumper $$ because now i just checked. its been like 2.5 years and ive done 5 calipers at $500 each time (coordinate rides to work, dog daycare etc.) what feels like every 6 mos if not 4. in hindsight for $2500 id have got some nice brakes aftermarket (?) or considered learning how to bleed brake systems and work on them often. it works out to roughly $100 a month for my brakes, 2004 4runner. i could possibly sell my new winch and victory4x4 bumper at a discount and a few parts off my rig and get into a tacoma of similar year, trd 2003 or second gens, jeep cherokee, tj or mostly outright buy a jeep of some sort used jk/rubi/tj rubi (would finance 5-10k) or a model w the dana 44 rear and 410s like willys or sahara

my brake fluid level and quality look good btw

Happy New year

I understand your frustration. What I don't understand is why you're paying every time this happens. Does your mechanic not warranty his work? I owned an auto repair business for 15 years and you would've had a 12 month 12k warranty on parts and labor had I done your work. If my repair had failed within the warranty period I would have redone the job at no charge to you and my parts supplier would be supplying me with new parts each time. Now, after the warranty expired we would've had to start over, but I certainly would've found another brand of caliper and at least tried something different. And most likely if it needed redoing shortly after the warranty expired, I would've cut the prices as much as possible. Sounds like you need a new mechanic.

 

[hinmo24t]

Thanks everyone

I'm going to say wtf to them tomorrow but then again part my fault I have my receipts kept but unorganized to say hes done that one before. Last round was a coated caliper I believe. Napa etc.

Heres a shot of it seized and notched into the rotor

Was bad smell w a good amt of smoke in my garage

Notched out Notched out - Album on Imgur

 

[Syr4RinNC]

I agree with all the above. Sorry to hear about the problems. I think it’s more of a caliper issue than 4runner issue. Many have long warranties or lifetime. We get plenty of salt here in ny - I’ve only had one caliper seize. You should be in the shops computer system, but I know they can mess up - Ie misspell your name and can’t find you or something.

Good luck. But if you’re finding reasons to try to move on from the vehicle you’ll keep finding reasons and maybe you should.

If you do end up selling the bumper let me know- I might be interested (not an absolute sale, but something I’ve been thinking about)

 

[Drcoffee]

Just thinking out loud. If you are planning to buy a Chrysler Jeep Product and you are frustrated with your 4runner brakes, steel yourself for way more problems and costs owning a Jeep. Just saying.

 

[hinmo24t]

I agree with all the above. Sorry to hear about the problems. I think it’s more of a caliper issue than 4runner issue. Many have long warranties or lifetime. We get plenty of salt here in ny - I’ve only had one caliper seize. You should be in the shops computer system, but I know they can mess up - Ie miss spell your name and can’t find you or something.

Good luck. But if you’re finding reasons to try to move on from the vehicle you’ll keep finding reasons and maybe you should.

If you do end up selling the bumper let me know- I might be interested (not an absolute sale, but something I’ve been thinking about)

thanks and [MENTION=78997]Drcoffee[/MENTION]

im thinking of keeping bumper brand new uninstalled and letting her go for $100 off if i cant cancel, if i end up doing that ill let you know, its the 2003-2005 blitz tho. ill keep the winch for another vehicle.

plan is to get the runner in shop tomorrow and pay the bill and think.

i hear you on jeep. i had a tj 2002 for 3 years and only had death wobble issue w 33s. cherokee or that for $5k and keep modest and maybe rear locker 33s if a wrangler non rubi. well see.

simple math w my current 4runners brakes now. $$ i dont want to do it, but maybe will simplify, the runner has been great in a lot of ways otherwise

 

[Syr4RinNC]

ahh ok. I had an 03 before and have an 08 now. The bumpers probably won’t line up with the slight difference in body panels/ lights

 

[Captsolo]

I gots a 2005 4runner with 150,000 miles. Had one brake job by mechanics at a big shop with 6 lifts at 110,000.

No problems since.

4runner brake jobs are said to be difficult. Not a mechanic so I'm not sure why they say this.:laugh:

Front calipers (total of 4) on front brakes often have to be rebuilt, but do yourself a favor get new or AM new and replace, as they are not easy to rebuild and if they "freeze" up again, you have to do the job all over again.

If I ever have issues with my front calipers I will get good AM rebuilds or new.

Amazon.com: Callahan CCK04342 [2] FRONT Premium Original Brake Calipers + [2] Drilled/Slotted Rotors + Ceramic Pads + Hardware: Automotive

 

[DMX512]

I gots a 2005 4runner with 150,000 miles. Had one brake job by mechanics at a big shop with 6 lifts at 110,000.

No problems since.

4runner brake jobs are said to be difficult. Not a mechanic so I'm not sure why they say this.:laugh:

Time consuming? Yes
Difficult? Not really
PITA factor...high

 

[rdruss]

I say sadly because as much credit ive given the truck and encouragement to keep and investment into it as my daily and offroader...i just seized another caliper. My 5th or 6th in 3ish years. My indi mechanic gets me new coated calipers etc and wont jist change 1 rotor or pad. Its always a caliper 2 rotos and 2 pads. Always hundreds of dollars

This one I pulled in garage and saw white smoke coming off rotors near my gas tank. Sizzling. Rims were warm if not hot. Get this...after a 15 min ride for a pizza let alone a highway commute not realising...

Im so confused and distraught. Been talking about getting another rig because of these brakes. Wish i didnt jist order a winch and bumper $$ because now i just checked. its been like 2.5 years and ive done 5 calipers at $500 each time (coordinate rides to work, dog daycare etc.) what feels like every 6 mos if not 4. in hindsight for $2500 id have got some nice brakes aftermarket (?) or considered learning how to bleed brake systems and work on them often. it works out to roughly $100 a month for my brakes, 2004 4runner. i could possibly sell my new winch and victory4x4 bumper at a discount and a few parts off my rig and get into a tacoma of similar year, trd 2003 or second gens, jeep cherokee, tj or mostly outright buy a jeep of some sort used jk/rubi/tj rubi (would finance 5-10k) or a model w the dana 44 rear and 410s like willys or sahara

my brake fluid level and quality look good btw

Happy New year

I would go with a NAPA reman caliper, I have had good experience with them. Take your rotor to them, or a machine shop, and have them turn it and install a new set of pads. This is a very easy DIY job, will save you $$.
Also, I recommend flush each one of your calipers every spring by cracking the bleed valve a few times and pumping out a few ounces of fluid. Top off the reservoir and go.

 

[pcos55]

Time consuming? Yes
Difficult? Not really
PITA factor...high

That's news to me... Just did front calipers/hydraulic hoses/pads/rotors last night 1hr in the dark.

 

[AuSeeker]

That's news to me... Just did front calipers/hydraulic hoses/pads/rotors last night 1hr in the dark.

The OP is saying the rear brakes....so I'm guessing that's the "PITA" factor being referred too here by the other poster due to having to deal with the parking brake if replacing the rotor, not to mention any badly rusted elements when you have a seized caliper.

 

[Captsolo]

I would go with a NAPA reman caliper, I have had good experience with them. Take your rotor to them, or a machine shop, and have them turn it and install a new set of pads. This is a very easy DIY job, will save you $$.
Also, I recommend flush each one of your calipers every spring by cracking the bleed valve a few times and pumping out a few ounces of fluid. Top off the reservoir and go.

NAPA Good stuff

15 year old 4runner in Nassau Bahamas
150,000 short miles
starts and runs like new .. and drives great.
It's a Toyota product.

brakes are the biggest weakness in 4runners IMO.

Had a GMC JIMMY from new
sold after ten years fr $800
Still, ran ok but body rusted away everywhere.
15 year old 4runner has not a speck of rust on body. Amazing Toyota