Help Break Caliper Problem

I installed new break pads in the front rotors of my 1995 Pathy.

I had a tough time compressing one of two pistons in the right dual piston caliper and I think I may have screwed up one or both pistons.

I took the Pathy for a test ride and the right rotor and caliper got VERY hot to the touch (in comparison to the left wheel rotor/hub). I jacked the front-end up with both wheels off the ground and turned both wheels by hand. The left wheel turned easily, but I could feel the brake pads dragging on the right wheel. I knew it was the pads since I had compressed the pistons before applying the brake and the wheel turned easily.

I suspect one or both pstons are not pulling back from the right rotor and friction heat is building up in the rotor and hub.

I'm pretty sure I screwed the piston(s) compressing the right wheel caliper pistons individually. The bottom piston compressed OK after some work. The top piston would not go in at all after several tries. It wasn't until I installed the inside break pad, and used two C-clamps to push in both psitons at the same time that it compresssed so I could get the caliper around the new (thicker) pads.

I'm guessing I distorted the shape of the piston(s) and/or the cylinder(s) each piston moves in trying to compress the pistons individually.

QUESTION: Do I need to just replace the caliper pistons, or do I have to replace the entire caliper assembly? Can I get a caliper rebuild kit from an auto parts store, or do I have to go to a Nissan dealer??

TIA for any tips, suggestions, coments.

Manjo 1995 Pathy SE 4WD

Reply to
Manjo
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It could be a ring of rust in the cylinder that the piston rubber seal is now meeting as the piston is further into the cylinder with new pads. You should replace the caliper if that's the case, but I have been known to polish out not too serious corrosion with no ill effects but obviously it's not something to be recommended.

Reply to
Steve B

Steve,

I'll check the cylinder. The actual piston had a ring of rust at the top end that meets the pad that seems to not have any effect on withdrawing the piston.

Thanks for the suggestion.

BTW, when I depressed the pistons on the left caliper with two C-clamps (simultaneously) against the outside pad, I had no problem pushing the pistons down. And I've had no problem with the caliper on the left side driving the truck. I'm sure I screwed up the piston on the right side by forcing the right caliper pistons down individually.

Manjo

in article snipped-for-privacy@nildram.net, Steve B at sbrads@nildramDOTcoDOTuk wrote on 4/12/04 5:19 AM:

Reply to
Manjo

in article 630BD778.19525%manjo snipped-for-privacy@gis.net, Manjo at manjo snipped-for-privacy@gis.net wrote on 4/12/04 2:19 AM:

It looks like I have a stuck piston in the R/F caliper. Brkae pull to left, and there's a lot of drag on the rotor when not braking.

Are there readily available caliper rebuild kits from Nissan? Or from the aftermarket vendors? How much are they?

Thanks in advance,

Manjo 1995 Pathfinder SE

Reply to
Manjo

in article 630BE3B3.19A40%manjo snipped-for-privacy@gis.net, Manjo at manjo snipped-for-privacy@gis.net wrote on 4/20/04 7:25 AM:

Reply to
Manjo

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