Front Brake Caliper Recommendations

[nickelghandi]

Hello all,

A couple years ago, I had both front brake calipers replaced from OEM to whatever the shop used (likely NAPA), and now one seems to be seized. My steering wheel will shake violently as I increase in speed after a stop, and eventually settle down after a minute or so maintaining speed. If at speed, I apply the brake, it will shake a bit before I get the pedal down far enough for both calipers to grab evenly. I have also smelled some "burnt brake smell" after driving, so I am almost certain it is the caliper or a component thereof. I do not think my rotor has warped yet.

I feel pretty comfortable rebuilding the caliper myself, unless it is the main cylinder, but I fear it might be.

I am unsure of what option with which to go for the repair. Duralast reman calipers look okay and if painted might last a while. OEM seems a bit pricey. Does anyone have recommendations?

I plan to do the work myself. The only reason I had the shop do it the last time is because it was winter and I did not yet have a garage, and I was having the rotors replaced as well so it was a longer job if done DIY.

[Rockwood]

It might be a seized caliper slide pin - I had one do that and it vibrated badly. I could not get the seized slide pin out of the caliper bracket, so I bought a Cardone reman off of Rockauto.

Calipers are usually ok unless they are leaking. Any leaks?

[nickelghandi]

No leaks. I will pull the caliper and bracket off and see if I can get the pins out.

[macgiver]

mac,FWIW Centric , and anything related to them (Stoptech for ex.) - albeit 10 years ago had very poor QC on J30 calipers.I goto an Import parts house ,big out here, and order two front (double piston) calipers that are Centric reman. When I open boxes in store the look and surfaces were oddly different. Like one was "chem-dipped" in some acid/or something and NOT rinsed nor neutralized. I ask to see a different box ( 1 more was instock) - it too had the weird "fuzzy- eaten-feeling" surface .Only that one turned weird "rusted-red" on me year and 1/2 later ( and I'm in Desert!)Had to get job done ,not to be too swayed-but salesman pushing "that's just the SURFACE", I knew I could bring back even if after install -for satisfaction , and I'll do full inspection at home. Needless to say upon pulling the "cups" the inside bores WERE NOT UP TO SNUFF - now I FINNISH THE REMAN (emery the bore)on them in the funky CENTRIC part! Centric -Stoptech has on many reviews ,"QC poor", "Cust. Svc very bad" , - just read the LOWEST FIRST-ORDER and see for yourself(Tirerack rev. for ex.).So for me one of the thousands of aftermarket "Mega vendors" they are, I crossed off my list years ago. Maybe they've changed - but has anyone perceived or concluded lately ,todays CEO's going - "yeah I'll take a cut now , let's spend extra $$$ on giving out to the public" !!

[brickbox]

Hello all,

A couple years ago, I had both front brake calipers replaced from OEM to whatever the shop used (likely NAPA), and now one seems to be seized. My steering wheel will shake violently as I increase in speed after a stop, and eventually settle down after a minute or so maintaining speed. If at speed, I apply the brake, it will shake a bit before I get the pedal down far enough for both calipers to grab evenly. I have also smelled some "burnt brake smell" after driving, so I am almost certain it is the caliper or a component thereof. I do not think my rotor has warped yet.

Had the exact same thing on my QX4. I changed the rotors and pads 2 weekends ago with the Wearever platinum pads and wearever "coated" rotors (whatever that means....didnt find any coated surfaces). I had the bottom caliper pins frozen solid on both sides. Had to replace the caliper brackets with new pins and boots (from Autozone, Duralast brand, as these seem to be uncommon around me) and everything's been good for the past 1000 miles.

[nickelghandi]

Okay, I finally pulled the wheel and caliper off. The slide pins were totally fine. The grease was even still clear-ish white.

It is the lower caliper piston that has seized and neither my clamps nor my ball joint press can push it back. I have ordered a new one from Autozone and will paint and replace it when it arrives. When I pulled off the caliper, I discovered that the pads had scorched onto the rotor and left some material behind that brake cleaner cannot seem to dissolve. I think steel wool will probably do the trick here.

I also ordered a new set of PowerStop pads from Amazon and will replace both sets of pads. The driver side caliper looks perfectly fine. I am not sure what happened to the passenger side to make it seize like that. Never seen that happen in such a short time (2 years). I do not drive it much though which can contribute to the issue.