2001 Toyota Solara Front Driver Side Caliper Grabbing

DAVE9

MEMBER
2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

I'm at the point of begging for some sound advice and, Lord willing, a solution to a very difficult and problem I am having with the brakes on my 01 Camry Solara SLE (1MZFE). I destroyed a caliper because I was dumb and let it go too long and was driving (only 4 mph in a driveway) when the pads fell out and caused the piston to go grinding into the back of the rotor. It wouldn't go back in.

SO, now I finally have an almost entirely new brake system after all I have gone through. New master cylinder, power booster and caliper (driver side front), and both front rotors and driver side hose. It will begin feeling fine. No noises, smooth strong braking. Then I feel the pedal begin to get firmer as I use the brakes more and then the front driver side brake gradually (but fairly quickly) begins to not release and it grabs harder till the engine struggles to move the car. It's allowing pressure to push the piston in but it wont draw back out of the one caliper. I don't think its a bad caliper because its the second replacement as we thought the first was what the problem might be.

Also FYI, the lines have been bled thoroughly. Which was another very long drawn out difficult process.

Any help would be VERY much appreciated. I am at a total loss and its my only ride and I'm beginning to really regret ever attempting to do this and teach myself something.

Dave

4 Replies

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
18,828 POSTS

When it locks up can you open bleeder and fluid come out and it releases? Pass side not locking? Car have drums on rear? Engine light on? ABS light?

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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 AT 2:44 PM

DAVE9

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Yes, I have done that. Bleeding it does release the caliper. And fluid does spurt - but not as hard as when bleeding with the pedal. I am currently in the middle of redoing the caliper with the new slide pins and bolts with permatex ultra disc brake caliper lube. I have been using the original ones because they seemed higher quality metal. But they were grimey and not well lubed. I am being told that that's very important and could be preventing the piston from sliding back.

Yes abs light is on but I have tried while abs is disengaged and still bad. I have all discs brakes. Everything I've done - including smell test and heat from the wheel tell me it's only the one caliper.

Changing a greasing of the slide pins and bolts and dust boots did not help. I am really beginning to believe that the autozone I've been going to just has a batch of bad calipers. Any thoughts?