O.T. Sticking rear brakes

JackE · Mar 2, 2009

I changed out the rear brake pads on my truck this past weekend. Ran into no problems while doing the job. Took the truck out for road test, truck would not accelerate as before. Went back into shop, could smell the burnt brakes while getting out of the truck. Jacked truck back up, With trans in neutral, tried to turn real wheels, they would not turn. Took brakes back apart, redid both using caliper piston tool to push piston back into bore, reassembled brakes, tried road test again, same problem. What am I missing? Truck is a 2001 Chevy, 4-wheel disc brakes. Thanks, Jack

Mike M · Mar 2, 2009

How are your parking brake linings ? cables stuck on ?
Caliper piston sticking or hose bad acting like a check valve ?

Derby City · Mar 2, 2009

It could be several things. Collapsed hose, although you shouldn't be able to push back the piston. Anti-lock brake "motor" malfunction, a GM problem, or proportioning valve if it is equipped with that. Or, you did someting wrong on the rebuild. Take the brake hose off and see if the brake releases and go backward until you find it. It kind of sounds like the rubber is covering the fluid hole in the caliper. Fluid gets in and can't get out.

JackE · Mar 2, 2009

I would not think it's a collapsed hose, When I pushed the pistons back into the bore with the tool, they went in smoothly with no effort. I checked the emergency brake shoes after I took it apart the second time. They are definetly worn. I have'nt used the emer. brake outside of just testing it for years. I tried it after this latest problem and it won't hold the truck. It's got that emer. brake, where you hold the regular brake pedal and engage the emer. brake. When I do that now, the emer. pedal goes to the floor and the truck will drift if I put it in drive. I never use the emer. brake, so I don't see what happened to it. I also don't have any brake light warning. Thanks, Jack

Oldmax · Mar 2, 2009

The last brake job I did on my PU 2004 chev silverado K-2500. While replacing back brakes found that disk was worn out on one side of disk I had to replace . When putting back together pad on that side of disk didn't want to go on was too big "long" to fit slots in caliper, I filed down untill it fit the same as the one on other side. haven't had any trouble so far. I think the caliper holder was not uniform from factory . When the pad tightend it would not release. also all the disk are pitted "Like they were rusted or somthing" I replaced back ones and will replace the front ones when I replace the pads makes for a high price brake job as the disk are $50 each.

RodinNS · Mar 2, 2009

Did you change the hardware kits and clean the calipers? Did everything move freely?
In my experience with disc brakes on my Ranger... you either change the whole shot out to the flex hose or don't bother. Pads, rotors, hardware and calipers. If you don't you end up with some variation on what you're experiencing right now... more often the variation where you have no or poor brakes.
Seems to me that somethign is sticking on yours...

Rod

MarkB_MI · Mar 2, 2009

GM pickups of that vintage have a bad reputation for sticking rear calipers. My theory is that unless you do a lot of hard braking while loaded, the rear brakes don't get enough use to keep them freed up.

Remove the calipers and make sure they slide freely on their mounting bolts. (I think those calipers are on bolts, it's been awhile since I've had them apart.)

Any time you replace disc brake pads, you should always remove the caliper mounting bolts, clean them and lubricate them with an appropriate disk brake lube.

O.T. Sticking rear brakes

JackE

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Mike M

Well-known Member

Derby City

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JackE

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Oldmax

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RodinNS

Well-known Member

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

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