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+--- Thread: Frozen caliper! (/showthread.php?tid=3726)
Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-13-2012
OK I was driving in stop and go traffic and suddenly the car feels like there is a drag. Than I.notice some smoke in front of me. Front left has seized or something. Any tips? Never had this happen. Can I do.anything to save it that doesnt cost money.
RE: Frozen caliper! - larsalan - 06-13-2012
My buddy had a 300sd that had a caliper stuck shut too. We were changing pads and couldn't get a c clamp to compress the piston. Ended up putting the caliper in a vise to compress it. Threw a bit of bearing grease on the piston and I never heard him complain that it was dragging after that.
RE: Frozen caliper! - Simpler=Better - 06-14-2012
Don't pour brake fluid on it while it's hot-that's how I set my W123 on fire the first time.
RE: Frozen caliper! - DeliveryValve - 06-14-2012
(06-13-2012, 04:29 PM)lgreeley83 OK I was driving in stop and go traffic and suddenly the car feels like there is a drag. Than I.notice some smoke in front of me. Front left has seized or something. Any tips? Never had this happen. Can I do.anything to save it that doesnt cost money.
It's most likely rust related. You'll most likely need to pop the pistons out and clean the rust/crud off them. But if pitted, then you'll need new units.
Then if that's the case, time for a upgrade to w126 vented rotors.
I have a used set of calipers and good rotors for sale. One caliper would need to be resealed though.
.
RE: Frozen caliper! - JB3 - 06-14-2012
cheapest possible solution with the worst possible safety consequences is disconnect the line and cap it.
I did this once for a grey market 300D NA that I was waiting forever on a rear caliper for, 3 wheel brakes for a week or so. I wouldn't do it on the front, but its definitely an option if you're stuck.
I keep the little brake line cap in the glove compartment now that its been made.
Otherwise rebuild or buy another caliper, I agree with DV, probably jammed up with rust or other crap.
This will make you feel better-
![[Image: 0052.jpg]](http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd387/tinworm2/1989%20volvo%20240DL/0052.jpg)
RE: Frozen caliper! - DeliveryValve - 06-14-2012
That's nasty man! You fellas get all the fun!
.
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-14-2012
Love to do the caliper rotor upgrade but no money as of now.
RE: Frozen caliper! - JB3 - 06-14-2012
(06-14-2012, 01:15 PM)DeliveryValve That's nasty man! You fellas get all the fun!
was off my volvo, took a 12 ton press to get that rotor off the hub. Normally they are loose when you remove a tire, but not this one
. Lower control arm broke in half when i tried to remove it later. All new now though.(06-14-2012, 01:39 PM)lgreeley83 Love to do the caliper rotor upgrade but no money as of now.
where does the leak appear to be coming from? inside or outside piston?
maybe for the interim, if its the outside piston, your could take the caliper apart and block off the access ports the outside piston, and still have half a caliper, but no more leak.
Ive got plenty of dangerous pieces of advice to lend here.
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-14-2012
.
[/quote]
where does the leak appear to be coming from? inside or outside piston?
maybe for the interim, if its the outside piston, your could take the caliper apart and block off the access ports the outside piston, and still have half a caliper, but no more leak.
Ive got plenty of dangerous pieces of advice to lend here.
[/quote]
Are you saying it could freeze up due to low fluid? This caliper was not leaking but my other one was when I first bought it. Than I assumed
fluid helped the seal swell and stopped leak.
I have had the pb blaster on bolts all day and will see what I find in a few hours.
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-14-2012
Well I got it off fairly easily. Sorry no pics. Pads wearing a bit unevenly like getting pushed in at an angle. No leaks but real dirty and of course rust. Was able to compress the piston without any more trouble than usual. Not stuck any more
.Who knows for how long. Probably going to be stuck again tomorrow.
RE: Frozen caliper! - sassparilla_kid - 06-15-2012
Throw some grease in there!
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-15-2012
Stuck again.
Its tough to work on my car cause landlord is a dick. Can't have car on jacks all afternoon so I don't want to turn the rotors. Pads on there are pretty skinny. Against all.best practice known can I replace pads without turning rotors?
My theory is the piston won't have to travel as far and enter the sticky region of travel. Never popped a piston out and am intimidated with the lack of shop space. If I rip the rubber I'm screwed too. My rotors look pretty good.
RE: Frozen caliper! - JB3 - 06-15-2012
(06-15-2012, 04:53 PM)lgreeley83 Stuck again.
Its tough to work on my car cause landlord is a dick. Can't have car on jacks all afternoon so I don't want to turn the rotors. Pads on there are pretty skinny. Against all.best practice known can I replace pads without turning rotors?
My theory is the piston won't have to travel as far and enter the sticky region of travel. Never popped a piston out and am intimidated with the lack of shop space. If I rip the rubber I'm screwed too. My rotors look pretty good.
if the rotors not warped, they last pretty well, I wouldn't worry about turning them unless they are horribly scored and such.
Sounds like this might do the trick. landlord wont let you work on the car?
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-15-2012
(06-15-2012, 05:03 PM)JB3(06-15-2012, 04:53 PM)lgreeley83 Stuck again.
Its tough to work on my car cause landlord is a dick. Can't have car on jacks all afternoon so I don't want to turn the rotors. Pads on there are pretty skinny. Against all.best practice known can I replace pads without turning rotors?
My theory is the piston won't have to travel as far and enter the sticky region of travel. Never popped a piston out and am intimidated with the lack of shop space. If I rip the rubber I'm screwed too. My rotors look pretty good.
if the rotors not warped, they last pretty well, I wouldn't worry about turning them unless they are horribly scored and such.
Sounds like this might do the trick. landlord wont let you work on the car?
Landlord sucks. When.moving in they said working on cars was fine. Now its an offence I can get fined for. 150+- unit complex. Half are condos. Somehow condo ownership agreements say no working on cars and somehow that applies to me. I generally work in the evening and try to be quick. When I was doing my manifold swap I was always looking over my shoulder. Paranoid just checking my oil. Pretty lame. Landlords are retired husband and wife. Around every day.
Gonna try some 13 dollar pads tonight, bleed all four and see where I am at.
Oh yeah and they.bitch.whenever I have more than 2 cars. 90% of the time.
RE: Frozen caliper! - larsalan - 06-16-2012
Maybe you just need to try a mechanic with like a clean jump suit, white gloves, and spectacles. Perhaps the appearance of grease and soot, and wheels laying about has them up in arms.
I believe if you try and speak with them in a polite manner you may get further. Explain that this is part of your life and they aren't letting you live.
Or as you say they may just be dicks.
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-16-2012
I'm a very neighborly guy, I have chatted with many other guys in the complex and they have all been told no working on cars. Its a decent complex, lots of kids, and I finally found an area without gangs. I understand it to an extent. Nobody wants cars on blocks for days, and with all the kids safety is a concern. Like I said though I am afraid to pop the hood. It is a bit too much. One neighbor said he has heard maintaining a car is OK but repairing a car is not. Who knows what that means? He got chewed out for doing a 20 min oil change. Any who I figure its just the lame crap I inevitably have to deal with until I own property.
Changed pads last night. Didn't get to bleed yet but I think I may be in the clear. Pads on the passenger side were almost new whereas driver's side almost gone. No wonder that thing pulled like a retarded donkey when I braked. <--unrelated to sticky caliper.
I'll be upgrading when I get back from my tour in Egypt next may.
RE: Frozen caliper! - lgreeley83 - 06-17-2012
Drove much today and still no sticky brakes. I think piston was just too far out and that caused issues.