Sticky caliper... what to do???

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Sun May 01, 2005 7:49 am

Hi guys... i guess my front left caliper is a bit sticky and i don't know what to do?... first here is the feedback.

today while i was going to work the streets were empty as hell (today is a vacation) so i went as fast as i can... i was doing 140 Kms on a 60 Kms bridg and braking as hell at the exit.

anyways after braking hard for a few times the shudder problem started to appear again and a little vibration in the steering wheel while the brakes are applied... i then started to smell some fried pads smell and the front left wheel got much higher tendancy to lock.

i remebered that during testing the rotors and oushing the brakes to the limit it was the left caliper that was smoking... also at almost each pads replacment i used to notice that the left pads are worn out more than the right.

i guess that means that the left calipper is a bit sticky... right??? i mean this will explain the fried pads, uneven pad wear and wheel locking but how can i make sure and how to fix that??

thanks for the help guys.

MMamdouh

Audacity Racing · Post by **Audacity Racing** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:23 am

i'm by no means an expert in brakes, but...

for our formula car, when the rear left caliper started getting "sticky" we just tore it apart and cleaned everything really good in our parts washer and then with brake cleaner. it could be just dust up in the psiton around the edges of the moving part... but i dunno. i would try and clean it real good and try it out again and see what sort of results you generate...

good luck though

richardmatalon · Post by **richardmatalon** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:40 am

THe two bolts that the caliper uses to anchor into the bracket, they need to be able to slid, so just pull them out, and clean them off and get some caliper greese, or some never seize and coat them with it and work it in and out until it moves freely. THat is how you get them cleaned up. Also when you put back in your pads, put caliper greese on the metal parts on the bracket, becuase the whole caliper system moves, thats why they are called floating calipers. They need to move around.

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Sun May 01, 2005 9:39 am

i spent lots of time tring to find caliper grease but i didn't so i am currently using regular axel grease... could that be the problem?? and if so then i am stuck with it for good as i can't find caliper greas anywhere.

i guess i will tare the caliper apart, clean it as hell, regreas it and try the car... one more question though... in the cleaning process did you take off the piston from the caliper or was it an "external" cleanup job.

thanks for hte help

MMamdouh

Audacity Racing · Post by **Audacity Racing** » Sun May 01, 2005 9:50 am

on the formula car (fsae) we took the psiton out as well to see if there was any obstruction to prevent the piston from freely moving about...