caliper questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Darren MagooGardner · 11-12-2012, 11:12 PM

How does one tell if a brake caliper is bad? my rf caliper on my 72 appears to have a stuck piston...can it be re-built or is it best to by a new one? I prefer to rebuild and ive seen kits,,is that what it needs?
Thanks ,,Mr.Magoo

Andy4639 · 11-13-2012, 01:14 AM

Yes u can rebuild it. The kits aren't bad priced at all. I for one though would look at buying a remanufactured, they are almost as cheap as the rbuild kits.
Plus you get a warrinty with it. Just my cents worth though.

*bk2life* · 11-13-2012, 01:48 AM

yeap what he said. new calipers with brake shoes are like 25 bucks each. you cant beat it..

but to answer your question a stuck caliper will have really weird wearing brake pads

Andy4639 · 11-13-2012, 02:50 AM

Also look at the slides and take it apart and clean the slides good and the sleeves that it rides in. Relube them and see if that helps any.

volksworld · 11-13-2012, 09:08 AM

also check your rubber brake lines. over time they swell and clog internally.the truck will pull towards the good hose till you force enough fluid thru the bad one,then it'll pull that way and drag that caliper when you take your foot off. dont bother rebuilding the caliper yourself...if it's stuck it's rusty and needs to be honed [and hard to get the piston out]and possibly needs another piston.rebuilt calipers for these trucks are so cheap there's no reason to try it yourself. the hone and kit would cost more.

Darren MagooGardner · 11-14-2012, 12:27 AM

Thanks for all the advice. I tore it down today and it had a small ring of rust around the piston. IT wasnt too hard to get the piston out. gonna clean the piston with 2000 grit and the sleeve with 1500 and put it back togather and see do it stop better and not pull when I apply the brakes.

11-12-2012, 11:12 PM	#1
Darren MagooGardner Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: minden la Posts: 704	caliper questions How does one tell if a brake caliper is bad? my rf caliper on my 72 appears to have a stuck piston...can it be re-built or is it best to by a new one? I prefer to rebuild and ive seen kits,,is that what it needs? Thanks ,,Mr.Magoo

11-13-2012, 01:14 AM	#2
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: caliper questions Yes u can rebuild it. The kits aren't bad priced at all. I for one though would look at buying a remanufactured, they are almost as cheap as the rbuild kits. Plus you get a warrinty with it. Just my cents worth though. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

11-13-2012, 01:48 AM	#3
bk2life Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: phx, az Posts: 868	Re: caliper questions yeap what he said. new calipers with brake shoes are like 25 bucks each. you cant beat it.. but to answer your question a stuck caliper will have really weird wearing brake pads

11-13-2012, 02:50 AM	#4
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: caliper questions Also look at the slides and take it apart and clean the slides good and the sleeves that it rides in. Relube them and see if that helps any. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

11-13-2012, 09:08 AM	#5
volksworld Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: formerly NY currentlyNC Posts: 390	Re: caliper questions also check your rubber brake lines. over time they swell and clog internally.the truck will pull towards the good hose till you force enough fluid thru the bad one,then it'll pull that way and drag that caliper when you take your foot off. dont bother rebuilding the caliper yourself...if it's stuck it's rusty and needs to be honed [and hard to get the piston out]and possibly needs another piston.rebuilt calipers for these trucks are so cheap there's no reason to try it yourself. the hone and kit would cost more.

11-14-2012, 12:27 AM	#6
Darren MagooGardner Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: minden la Posts: 704	Re: caliper questions Thanks for all the advice. I tore it down today and it had a small ring of rust around the piston. IT wasnt too hard to get the piston out. gonna clean the piston with 2000 grit and the sleeve with 1500 and put it back togather and see do it stop better and not pull when I apply the brakes.

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