Chevy Brake Problem

[barbarossa]

I hope it is ok to post this in the Off Topic section, I don't know where else to ask. Need help from the Bayou Shooter car experts.

Changed the rear brake pads on my 2002 Chevy Silverado. Single piston disc brakes.

The old pads were worn down to the squealers.

After installing new pads, one side (right) gets very hot. The brake on this side drags to the point that the wheel almost cannot be turned by hand.

The caliper is not sticking, it floats freely on the freshly greased pins. The pads float as well.

However, when I apply brake pressure, the piston doesn't release after I take my foot off.

Here is where it gets weird, I re-installed the old, worn pads and everything works fine again. Piston lets go when I take the foot off the pedal. Install new, thick pads and the piston won't let go. I have to move it with a crow bar (carefully) to even get the caliper back off the disc.


What's going on here? How do I fix this?


Thanks in advance, barbarossa.

 

[XD-GEM]

I've never run into this problem, but first thing I'd check is that they gave you the correct replacement pads. If they don't match, even a little bit, they could hang on the caliper and not let the piston return properly.

 

[barbarossa]

I've never run into this problem, but first thing I'd check is that they gave you the correct replacement pads. If they don't match, even a little bit, they could hang on the caliper and not let the piston return properly.

Pads should be the right ones, they look identical to the old ones and move freely on the calipers.

Also, remember, one side works just fine.

 

[FORman]

I'm no expert, but the big difference is the new pads make the piston run deeper in the caliper, where it hasn't been in a long time, where corrosion and gunk may have formed. Also the seal has to double back over itself with the new pads, another thing that hasn't happened in a while.

Sounds like a caliper issue. The only problems I have had with those brakes have been after replacing the emergency brake shoes and disturbing the cables.

 

[paddle007]

90% chance the caliper is bad. Get it hot,make it stick and crack the bleeder valve without applying alot of force to the caliper. If the wheel still drags I would be throwing a pair of calipers on it.

 

[dk.easterly]

Rubber or solid tubing lines?

After a while the lines can collapse causing a check valve of sorts. It'll let fluid to the caliper but won't release. I've changed a few because of this reason.

 

[edman87k5]

Common problem with gm truck rear discs, go ahead and change the caliper.

 

[3fifty7]

This won't help because I can't remember what solved the problem.
I had an 02 silverado that did the exact same thing after changing the rear discs. I was pretty shocked when I first noticed the problem but it did release on its own. Second time it wouldn't release so I dropped down a gear and mashed on the accelerator till I made it to the dealership. When I got there it was glowing so bright I do not see how it didn't melt off.

 

[JHenley17]

Had a similar problem with the front caliper on my F-150, a new caliper was the remedy.

 

[barbarossa]

New caliper, huh? Not what I was hoping to hear.

Does it make sense to rebuild the caliper? I've done it on motorcycles before.

 

[JHenley17]

Not sure, but I remember it being pretty cheap at Autozone.

 

[Gus McCrae]

Bad caliper, buy a new one.

You might can work the piston free, but not likely. Pass on the rebuild kit. You will need to bleed the brakes. If you need help, give me a call.

 

[AK shooter]

It sounds like you have a bad caliper. I would change both if it were mine.

 

[BOSS351]

Change both of them. They should be pretty cheap for a 13 year old vehicle. I had to change both of mine on my F150 after about 150K and it was surprisingly cheap IIRC. Just make sure you have the bleeders on the TOP of the caliper..i found out the hard way years ago on an earlier truck.

 

[El Rubio]

Rubber or solid tubing lines?

After a while the lines can collapse causing a check valve of sorts. It'll let fluid to the caliper but won't release. I've changed a few because of this reason.

This. I had the exact problem, changed the caliper-no good, and finally fixed it when I changed the short run of flexible rubber brake line to that wheel. It does exactly what dk here said, a layer of rubber inside the line peels back and forms a check valve that will only flow in one direction. My line looked fine from the outside.

 

[nolaradio]

Bad caliper? Buy a new truck.

 

[mike84z28]

Bad caliper for sure. You can disassemble them by removing the piston seal and o=ring. Hone out the inside and clean it, Reinstall piston and seal and bleed brakes. This often is not worth the trouble as new (rebuilt) calipers are usually not expensive and come with a lifetime warrenty. My advice would be to replace them on both the driver and passenger side then bleed brakes.

 

[SVTFreak]

Another vote for sticky caliper. Swap it out. Much easier than rebuilding and you'd have to buy a hone and parts anyway, so probably wouldn't even be cheaper to rebuild.

 

[paddle007]

This. I had the exact problem, changed the caliper-no good, and finally fixed it when I changed the short run of flexible rubber brake line to that wheel. It does exactly what dk here said, a layer of rubber inside the line peels back and forms a check valve that will only flow in one direction. My line looked fine from the outside.

This is the point of the crack the bleeder valve test. If the line has imploded the rotor will free up after bleeding off the pressure.
A word a caution here. It is possible the ABS unit can create the same issue. It's uncommon but does happen. To prove this you crack the line going into the flexible hose. If it turns now the problem is upstream.
If the truck is a few years old I will not put rear pads on a GM truck without replacing the calipers.

 

[buttanic]

Common problem. The pistons in the calipers are made of a phenolic material and after a while they tend to swell and stick in the caliper bore stick and not retract. I just had this issue on my 07 Suburban. Change the caliper and be aware it could happen on the other 3. I also had it happen on an 85 Pontiac I owned.