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Posted on May 27, 2008
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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Rear disc brakes freezing up

Replaced rotors and pads. At first, the left caliper piston moved freely. Right side was difficult. After assembly, test driving brought smoke from the right side. Rotor was beginning to get awfully hot. After a couple test drives the left side began dragging really hard, too. Seemed simple, but maybe I missed something. While inspecting again, both pistons appear unable or unwilling to retract into the calipers. Help, Mr. Wizard!!

2 Answers

danoyachtcap

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  • Ford Master 2,907 Answers
  • Posted on Apr 22, 2015
danoyachtcap
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Might need a hand brake adjustment.
With a normal handbrake, you can remove some screws around the handbrake covering. The screws are sometimes well hidden so you have to look around.
When you get the covering off, there are two adjusting nuts at the rear of the handbrake. Turn the nuts until you can get "5 clicks" on the handbrake to set the brakes.
Some jack up the car while doing this so they can rotate the wheels by hand to feel when the brakes touch the pads.
Hope this helps

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  • Master 640 Answers
  • Posted on May 27, 2008
Anonymous
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Joined: Jul 31, 2007
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Master cylinder may be bad or most likley air in the lines---bleed the brakes.

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What tools needed to replace front brake pads & rotors

Brake Pads
Removal & Installation
Front





3.4L front disc brake assembly
toy_4run_34_frontbrakeassembly.gif








4.0L and 4.7L front disc brake assembly
toy_4run_frontbrakeassembly.gif



To Remove:


  1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of
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To Install:

CAUTION
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Rear
To Remove:


  1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of
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      toy_4run_rearcalbolts.gif



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To Install:


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READ COMPLETELY BEFORE STARTING
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Step 2 - Removing the Rear Brake Caliper Mount Bolts
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Step 5 - Removing Rear Brake Rotor
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Step 6 - Install New Brake Rotor
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Step 7 - Reset Rear Brake Caliper
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Need help changing brake pads and routers on 2003

Remove brake fluid from the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir until the reservoir is approximately 1/2 full. Discard the removed fluid.
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    3. Install or connect the following:
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    2. Remove the rear wheel and tire assembly.
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    005ba8a.gif
    Rear disc brake caliper removal


    1aff680.gif
    Rear disc brake caliper installation

    To install:
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    The hard part is pressing the caliper piston abck into the caliper so you can get the new, thicker pads over the rotor. A large C Clamp works best.

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    1. Remove the wheel and tire assembly. For additional information, refer to Section 204-04 .
    1. Remove the front disc brake caliper bolts. torx bit. T20?
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    1. Remove the front disc brake pads.
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      1. Remove the inboard front disc brake pad.
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    1. s1v~us~en~file=ani_caut.gif~gen~ref.gif CAUTION: Make sure the master cylinder reservoir does not overfill and spill brake fluid while retracting the front disc brake caliper piston.
      NOTE: It is necessary to fully retract the front disc brake caliper piston in the bore before installing the front disc brake pads.
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    1. s1v~us~en~file=ani_caut.gif~gen~ref.gif WARNING: It is necessary to depress the brake pedal several times to position the front disc brake caliper piston before driving the vehicle.
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    Front Brakes

    Interesting, disc brakes don't normally stick. Since there is no tension pressure against the pads like drum brakes.

    You indicated you replaced the right caliper and the master cylinder, but no mention of the disc or the piston (Some caliper assemblies are all in one, some are not.)

    Here are some thoughts:

    Disc is contaminated with oil, grease, brake fluid etc, when you brake, it is absorbed by the pad, gets hot and sticks.

    You didn't replace left caliper, piston isn't working well, sending all pressure to right side.

    You didn't indicate, new, used or rebuilt caliper. If used, get anew/remanufactured SET of calipers and either semi-mettalic or ceramic pads, and new rotors (I used to get rotors turned, but new replacements are now generally cheaper that turning old ones. When working with brakes I always recommend you work them as a set, regardless of how good the other side looks.

    Make sure you clean the rotors with a solvent to ensure any grease or anti-rust agent is removed and dry will with several paper towels.

    When installing pads, ensure you do not touch the braking surface of the pad or the rotor, body oil can contaminate too.
    Make sure that the siding surface of the caliper is lubricatred with silicone grease designed for calipers (little packets are available at your parts store) On my GM Cars, it is the bolts that mount the caliper, but this varies by caliper design

    Hope that is
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