Might just have a frozen caliper...help!!

[CarCrazy24]

Hey everyone! I've been working away on the car, and while i had it on a hoist i noticed that it was difficult to spin the front passenger side tire when it was off the ground...it would spin slightly but it would stop immediately after i took off pressure. I'm thinking a frozen caliper, any other ideas? Just wondering if this is a common problem, and if there's anything I can do at home to fix this before buying new parts :surprised

[MikeW]

In my experience a frozen caliper works the other way: little to no braking on that side. I suppose it depends on the position of the caliper when it sticks. Does the car pull to one side when braking? You might have a slight rub but if you're still able to turn it by hand I don't think it's all that bad.

[Carl Beck]

Calipers usually freeze up when the car has been sitting for prolonged periods. Moisture gets into the brake fluid - and corrosion can form around the piston. Then when you step on the brakes, the piston extends, but will not retract. (far greater force is exerted to extend it by the hydraulics)

First thing to try - flush the brake lines and caliper out with fresh brake fluid through the Master Cylinder. In effect bleed the brake until you get clean fresh fluid coming out.

Drive the car and heat the brake caliper up. As the car is rolling about 40 mph or so - hit the brake pedal several times... Usually the caliper will free up. You can tell if a caliper is hanging up, if the car stops by itself when at a very slow roll. Likewise you can tell if the caliper is free again, because at a slow roll the car will keep rolling.

If the above doesn't work... you can take the caliper off. Manually clean off the piston and clean the cylinder. Make sure there is no pitting from corrosion and check the rubber seal. "Usually" that's all it takes. If the piston or cylinder are pitted or scared - replace the caliper assembly.

Or if you don't want to screw with it - just get a rebuilt caliper. They aren't an arm and leg...

The "problem" you can run into is dealing with the flair nuts on the brake lines. Amazing how many of them are rounded of. Not a bad idea to change the rubber line at that point as well. They are inexpensive and they do crack with age.

The other possible cause - is a front wheel bearing that is going out and that has seized up, or that has been over tightened. Put your hands on the tire at the 12:00 and 6:00 o'clock position - try pulling out and pushing in on the top and bottom - and see if there is any flex or movement in the assembly. There should be none..

good luck,

Carl B.

[CarCrazy24]

Thank you so much for all the info! Much appreciated, i'm gonna try each of those steps one by one, hopefully get this problem solved without too much expense =)