Dragging disc brake problem - suggestions sought

There are usually stainless steel shims on which the 'ears' of the brake pads slide. Remove these and with a wire brush clean out the rust underneath them. Rust expands as it forms and can cause the shims to jam the pads. Get a tube of brake grease and apply it to those surfaces and to the shims before you replace them. Not too much, you don't want to get any on the pads.

Brake pads should come out with your fingers, or with very little persuasion. Of you have to use a hammer there's someting wrong, and rust under the shims is the usual cause.

Jim wrote: J> I have a 1988 Toyota Camry Altrac with four wheel disc brakes.

J> The left rear disc brake drags -- that is, the caliper closes and J> stays clamped.

J> I can remove the caliper by driving it off the brake pads with a J> hammer. And, after doing so, I can compress the piston using a J> C-clamp in the usual fashion. However, after it's reinstalled, it J> "sticks" again.

J> Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this?

J> Thanks, Jim in Alaska

A partially collapsed brake hose, looking perfectly fine from outside, can do that to a brake. If that turns out to be the case, replace all of them, bacause others might not be too far behind.

Bad hose will do that.

nate

What about the pins it floats on? Are they siezed up?