Left Front Brake Dragging - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**chevy71super** · 04-28-2002, 02:22 PM

My left front disk brake is dragging on my 1971 K10. Does anyone know what the cause generally is? It gets so hot it smokes. I replaced the right front a couple of years ago and I will probably just go get a rebuilt one for the left. Thanks

3truckcanuck · 04-28-2002, 03:55 PM

More than likely the piston in the left front caliper is seized and will not return to its proper position when the brake pedal is released...

RainDog · 04-28-2002, 08:38 PM

99.9% of the time that's the piston in the caliper, like he said. Usually the easiest fix is just slap a new caliper on there.

snow man · 04-28-2002, 09:26 PM

sent you mail snowman

**chevy71super** · 04-28-2002, 11:06 PM

Thanks Snowman & everyone else. I went to Schuck's and bought a rebuilt one. (I wish NAPA was open on Sunday.) The price was right, 20 bucks after I gave them my core. Snowman suggested the brake lines probably need replacing. That's what I will do next. Not a good idea to have all new brakes with 30 year old rubber lines.

WORNBRAKES · 04-29-2002, 03:46 AM

My '68 does the same thing but usually after sitting for a while. The rear brakes also lock up at the same time. I am going to repack the wheel cylinders. The rear one is leaking. I hope it fixes the problem. I will let you know.

Blazer1970 · 04-29-2002, 08:39 AM

It could easily be the hose also. The old rubber lines swell shut on the inside so that the fluid will be forced through when you step on the pedal, but there is no spring or anything on the piston in the caliper to force it back through. Disk brakes depend on the free flow of fluid back to the reservoir to release the pads. I have seen this happen on rubber lines that were only a few years old. This is probably the same thing snowman said. Snowman please post your advice on the board for everyone to see!

------------------
Tim

[This message has been edited by Blazer1970 (edited April 29, 2002).]

BigDave · 04-29-2002, 10:10 AM

I had the same problem a few months ago. One morning, I noticed from a stop the truck would pull to the right a little. By the time I got home that afternoon it was pulling hard to the left under braking and still pulling to the right from a stop.

I pulled the wheels and inspected both hoses and the calipers. I tried to bleed the right side and sure enough I was just getting drips through the line.

Since both hoses appeared to be about the same age I replaced them both and solved the problem.

------------------
1972 Chevy Blazer 2WD - 400 SBC, bored, ported/polished heads, 9.5:1 dished pistons, Lunati 480/292 cam, electronic ignition, Edlebrock Performer intake, tricked out Rochester 850CFM Quadrajet, long tube headers, Flowmaster 40's, TH350-C with lock-up switch, 2800 rpm stall, shift kit, custom driveshaft, stock GM 12- bolt rear with Auburn Pro Series limited slip 3.73's, 2" drop spindles, 2" drop rear coils, track bar kit, front/rear stabilizers.

1999 30th Anniversary Trans-Am Coupe #1494 - M6, Flow-tech cut-out, Flowmaster, free mods. One of 292 coupes with M6 and in-dash CD.

snow man · 04-29-2002, 10:18 AM

the reason i did not post for every one to read was my reply would not work on the board. its is working now so i will help out when i can. thanks guys the snowman in ill.

04-28-2002, 08:38 PM	#3
RainDog Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burien, WA, USA Posts: 391	99.9% of the time that's the piston in the caliper, like he said. Usually the easiest fix is just slap a new caliper on there. __________________ "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."

04-28-2002, 11:06 PM	#5
chevy71super Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 658	Thanks Snowman & everyone else. I went to Schuck's and bought a rebuilt one. (I wish NAPA was open on Sunday.) The price was right, 20 bucks after I gave them my core. Snowman suggested the brake lines probably need replacing. That's what I will do next. Not a good idea to have all new brakes with 30 year old rubber lines. __________________ 71 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne 4X4 SB

04-29-2002, 03:46 AM	#6
WORNBRAKES Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hughesville, MD Posts: 1,350	My '68 does the same thing but usually after sitting for a while. The rear brakes also lock up at the same time. I am going to repack the wheel cylinders. The rear one is leaking. I hope it fixes the problem. I will let you know. __________________ Mario and Mandy Hughesville, MD 20637 69 C10 305/350 71 K5 Basket case 75 K10 Rescue Parting out 77 MG Midget Parting out 15 6.7L Cummins

04-29-2002, 08:39 AM	#7
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,507	It could easily be the hose also. The old rubber lines swell shut on the inside so that the fluid will be forced through when you step on the pedal, but there is no spring or anything on the piston in the caliper to force it back through. Disk brakes depend on the free flow of fluid back to the reservoir to release the pads. I have seen this happen on rubber lines that were only a few years old. This is probably the same thing snowman said. Snowman please post your advice on the board for everyone to see! ------------------ Tim [This message has been edited by Blazer1970 (edited April 29, 2002).] __________________ Tim

04-29-2002, 10:10 AM	#8
BigDave I poop on Ford! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston Area Posts: 295	I had the same problem a few months ago. One morning, I noticed from a stop the truck would pull to the right a little. By the time I got home that afternoon it was pulling hard to the left under braking and still pulling to the right from a stop. I pulled the wheels and inspected both hoses and the calipers. I tried to bleed the right side and sure enough I was just getting drips through the line. Since both hoses appeared to be about the same age I replaced them both and solved the problem. ------------------ 1972 Chevy Blazer 2WD - 400 SBC, bored, ported/polished heads, 9.5:1 dished pistons, Lunati 480/292 cam, electronic ignition, Edlebrock Performer intake, tricked out Rochester 850CFM Quadrajet, long tube headers, Flowmaster 40's, TH350-C with lock-up switch, 2800 rpm stall, shift kit, custom driveshaft, stock GM 12- bolt rear with Auburn Pro Series limited slip 3.73's, 2" drop spindles, 2" drop rear coils, track bar kit, front/rear stabilizers. 1999 30th Anniversary Trans-Am Coupe #1494 - M6, Flow-tech cut-out, Flowmaster, free mods. One of 292 coupes with M6 and in-dash CD. __________________ 1972 Chevy Cheyenne - LWB, factory 402BB 2005 Chevy Suburban LT 2006 Chrysler 300C - SRT8

04-28-2002, 02:22 PM	#1
chevy71super Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 658	Left Front Brake Dragging My left front disk brake is dragging on my 1971 K10. Does anyone know what the cause generally is? It gets so hot it smokes. I replaced the right front a couple of years ago and I will probably just go get a rebuilt one for the left. Thanks __________________ 71 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne Super 4X4 SB 72 Cheyenne 4X4 SB

04-28-2002, 03:55 PM	#2
3truckcanuck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Sault Ste Marie, Ont. Canada Posts: 8	More than likely the piston in the left front caliper is seized and will not return to its proper position when the brake pedal is released...

04-28-2002, 09:26 PM	#4
snow man Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mt. zion illinois Posts: 276	sent you mail snowman

04-29-2002, 10:18 AM	#9
snow man Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mt. zion illinois Posts: 276	the reason i did not post for every one to read was my reply would not work on the board. its is working now so i will help out when i can. thanks guys the snowman in ill.



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