Caliper is sticking on 2000 Dakota 2WD.

SYLLINX

MEMBER
2000 DODGE DAKOTA
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC
160,000 MILES

My caliper on the front right tire was sticking so I bought a new brake hose and new caliper along with new rotor and pads. It is still sticking and now i'm desperately trying to find out why. I have rear wheel abs if that helps and I doubt it would affect the front, but the rear brake cylinders are leaking. The abs light and brake light are not on so I don't think anything serious is broke.

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 2:09 PM

4 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

When the brake is locked up, crack open the steel line at the master cylinder. If it releases from there, suspect brake fluid contamination.

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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 2:59 PM

SYLLINX

MEMBER
19 POSTS

I will try that soon as I get a chance. The fluid has been flushed every 6 months to be safe so i'm just curious if I drive to much lol.

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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 3:02 PM

SYLLINX

MEMBER
19 POSTS

It was a groove in the area where the pad slides. I had to file them down smooth and now brakes are good.

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Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 AT 1:37 PM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

Happy to hear it's solved. Rather than removing material from the mount, the better approach is to weld it to build the metal up, then grind it down smooth. While grinding it down will solve the pad from catching, it increases the clearance between the caliper and mount. That will cause it to knock once when the brakes are applied and again when they're applied in reverse.

Other fixes include replacing the knuckle with a new one, if it's still available or you can find a good one in a salvage yard, and installing stainless steel inserts. Many import vehicles come with those inserts standard.

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Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 AT 5:44 PM