Please help brakes seized up

Denis0331 · #1 10-10-2011, 04:03 AM

i drove the car today stop and go all day then i parked it for five minutes got out came back and the brakes seized up couldn't go anywhere. i waited 2 hours and was able to drive again but only for few miles until i feel the brakes seizing up while i am driving and barely made it home with each minute being harder and harder to drive...please help...do u think its air bubble in the system that i have to bleed out any input will help out before i start digging tomorrow.

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flatlander · #2 10-10-2011, 09:35 AM

An air bubble would not give this symptom. It would give a softer spongy pedal feel.

When you have a caliper seize it is usually the piston not retracting because of contamination. Get a new caliper. Flush the old fluid and put in all new fluid. Would be a good time to put on sone new brake lines too.

I've replaced two calipers after they seized. Thought about rebuilding them but do not have the time.

JCL · #3 10-10-2011, 01:12 PM

A note to add is that this is a lesson for those who don't regularly flush their brake fluid. The contamination is corrosion that happens because water collects in the lowest part of the system (the calipers). Brake fluid flush every two years is the best defence.

Denis0331 · #4 10-10-2011, 06:17 PM

this morning it was fine i changed rear brake pads out last month and flushed my brakefluid i live in hawaii and its always humid and raining maybe its water maybee dirt today i will take everthying apart clean it out and flush my system out again. thanks for input.

JCL · #5 10-11-2011, 12:34 AM

When you change the brake pads you press the caliper piston back in, and it then works on the part of the cylinder that is subject to corrosion, the part that was behind the piston when the pads were worn. After replacing the pads is when it is most likely to seize.

If it isn't the piston in the caliper it could be the slides, ie the caliper not moving freely on the hanger. That problem is usually due to not cleaning it completely when changing the pads.

Denis0331 · #6 10-11-2011, 01:33 AM

brakes work after i cleaned calipers but problem still remains front brakes seem to be seizing up and car does not drive at normal speed it seems like its dragging..brakes get very hot after driving for 2 min. Brake pads are good calipers had rust on them i cleaned out sliders....i spent all day cleaning and scrubbing and not much have changed...i hope its noting big.

heuer21 · #7 10-11-2011, 03:50 AM

did you actually take apart the brake calipers? thats what you need to do. Rebuild or buy new. and change fluid and lines... There is no other way to properly go about repairing that

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