Seized Brake Caliper

[Trail_Weaver_]

Hey guys,
Wondering if anyone has some input to a recent issue with my brakes. I’m prepping for a big trip to the mountains and wanted to replace my brake pads. Front driver side was fine, went without a hitch. Front passenger caliper was completely extended and wouldn’t come off. Had to bleed the brake line in order to wiggle it off.

It’s obvious it’s been happening awhile, comparing the brake pads from the driver and passenger side shows a huge difference in wear. Dealership wants to replace both calipers and the brake lines attached to them, saying they were overheated and possibly damaged. But they also said I needed to resurface the rotors and need new pads, which is absolutely impossible since I put them on less than 3 (yes, 3) miles ago.

So the question is, how much of this is B.S.? Should I just change the calipers and see if it fixes the issue? I feel like I’m getting screwed once again by the dealership

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[ShadowsPapa]

I resurface rotors and don't toss new pads on because the rotors are likely worn to match the pads. I know most here won't do that, but the rotor is worn imperfectly and putting flat pads on means the pad won't be perfectly flat and 100% contacting the rotor surface.

For that caliper's pistons to be extended like that means the caliper didn't slide and the piston pad would be badly worn while the other pad not worn much at all.
find why the caliper didn't slide freely.

 

[Volt0]

Any chance that traction control might have been engaging that right front? As in, on the passenger side, did the inner/outer pads wear evenly?

 

[Trail_Weaver_]

Any chance that traction control might have been engaging that right front? As in, on the passenger side, did the inner/outer pads wear evenly?

Actually you are correct, the inner and outer pads wore unevenly, but I’m sad to say I didn’t notate which side (inner or outer) wore worse. What does traction control have to do with that?

 

[Rusty PW]

Cut the rotors. Either rebuild the caliper or replace it. New pads.

Rebuilding calipers ain't hard. Finding rebuild kit is sometimes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Actually you are correct, the inner and outer pads wore unevenly, but I’m sad to say I didn’t notate which side (inner or outer) wore worse. What does traction control have to do with that?

If a caliper can't slide, it's the piston side that wears the most.
That's because the caliper can't move or slide and allow the other pad to be forced against the rotor.
When the pistons are pushed out during braking, the piston side pad (inboard) is pushed against the rotor, further force makes the caliper slide on bolts (this arrangement) or in a bracket and the other pad - outboard pad - is then forced against the rotor's other face.

Look very carefully and you can see the caliper slide in this animation - and if it can't slide, then only the inboard or piston side pad will wear -



Here's another showing the type that slides on bolts -

 

[Volt0]

Actually you are correct, the inner and outer pads wore unevenly, but I’m sad to say I didn’t notate which side (inner or outer) wore worse. What does traction control have to do with that?

I probably was thinking of 2 things, and jumbled the wording. Sorry about that. As @ShadowsPapa pointed out, you’ll want to ensure that those slides are working as intended ( him and @Rusty PW have quite the depth of mechanical knowledge).

I was trying to figure out ‘why that side’ and ‘why only 1 side’. I’m wondering if you had a bad speed sensor ( bad feedback to traction control ) or some blockage on that right front. I’ve had caliper slides messed up b/c I got them wet, the boots were torn, and lack of grease . Looks like you’re in Texas, think you got any mud or sand, or salt water up in those calipers/sensors? Any slight chance that a sensor was harmed during the install of those wheel spacers, or during a routine tire rotation? Also, I may or may not have damaged a caliper when compressing it with a C clamp ( back in the day ), just saying, it happens.

am just trying to help you find the root cause, so that this doesn’t come back and haunt you again.

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