Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
      USW alleges COVID-19 violations at Kumho plant
    • Conti starts production of ‘HL' load index tires for select OE customers
      GM banking on 'BrightDrop' EV to build commercial van business
      Stengel promoted to president of NAPA parent Genuine Parts Co.
      Former auto exec Tyrone Jordan joins Cooper board of directors
    • Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      COVID-19 takes huge bite out of European tire markets in 2020 —ETRMA
      U.K. race series extends contract with Goodyear through 2026
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
    • Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Evolving delivery trends good for CV tire sector — Cooper exec
      Conti adding light-duty products to General Tire OTR tire lineup
      GM banking on 'BrightDrop' EV to build commercial van business
    • New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      USW opposes Taiwan tire makers' dumping counterproposal
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Taiwan tire makers propose settlement of import duties case
    • OK Tire adds Cooper, GT Radial passenger tires, Michelin, BFGoodrich commercial tires
      Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Global OTR Library adds wheels, rims to portfolio
      Conti starts production of ‘HL' load index tires for select OE customers
    • U.K. race series extends contract with Goodyear through 2026
      Goodyear Racing staying on track
      General Tire Canada renews sponsorship deal with Raceline Network
      Indy Autonomous Challenge: High-speed, head-to-head, no drivers
    • Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Hankook doubles size range of Ventus V2 all-season UHP line
      Conti adding light-duty products to General Tire OTR tire lineup
      Goodyear-brand belts back on the market under licensing arrangement
    • OK Tire adds Cooper, GT Radial passenger tires, Michelin, BFGoodrich commercial tires
      Wholesaler K&M Tire hosts virtual dealer conference
      Hankook doubles size range of Ventus V2 all-season UHP line
      New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
    • AMRA to host 5 educational webinars in Feb., March
      Shocks/struts maker KYB unveils video training series
      Bauer Built completes expansion at Neb. facility
      Marinucci: Basic steps to email efficiency
    • WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
      AAPEX: Using social media to promote your business
    • New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
      Latest COVID relief bill includes $325B in small-business support
    • Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Papadimitriou to leave position with Pirelli after six months on job
      SRNA increasing prices on Dunlop motorcycle tires
      Sentury Tire hires Martin Winter as global OE technical director
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
      Wheel weights: Balancing form with function
    • Video: Demounting
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
      How to clear rim rust and corrosion
      An introduction to demounting, mounting and inflation
    • Video: Safety
      Customers
      Considerations for shop safety policies
      Introduction: Creating a culture of safety
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
      An introduction to tire repair
      How to properly patch a puncture
    • Video: TMPS Service
      The life-saving work of TPMS
      An introduction to TPMS service
      The importance of proper relearn procedures
    • Video: Training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
      Choosing the right auto service tech school
      Intro: Finding and training technicians
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      The gravity of proper lift points
      Safety essentials when using jack stands
      An introduction to lifts and lift safety
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      The importance of torque specifications
      Introduction to proper wheel installation
      Torque check and recheck recommendations
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 18, 1995 02:00 AM

REAR CALIPER SERVICE: SITCKY SITUATION

Dan Marinucci
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The root cause of premature front disc pad wear on some General Motors Corp. cars may be sticking rear calipers. According to brake service professionals, the problem also is likely to ruin the inboard rear disc pad. The condition normally occurs on 1988 and newer W Body automobiles, which include the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Lumina, Oldsmobile Cutlass and Pontiac Grand Prix.

    Rear caliper slides on the W-Body cars have become notorious for corroding and causing the caliper to stick. When that happens, the outboard brake pad often won't even touch the outer surface of the rotor.

    So it's common to find a severely worn inboard pad, an almost unused outboard pad and a rear rotor on which the outer braking surface is heavily rusted from non-use, said Doug Harmon, a brake specialist with Raybestos Products Co.

    The car stops almost exclusively on the front brakes when sticking caliper sleeves hamper rear brake operation. So the first and most obvious clue to rear caliper trouble is severe and premature front disc pad wear.

    Although this problem is easy to identify, it often eludes and frustrates technicians. The reason is that so many shops still haven't adopted or aren't enforcing a policy of inspecting the entire brake system during every brake job, Mr. Harmon said.

    Caliper slide service

    The W-Body rear caliper slides on a set of sleeves or bushings protected by small, bellows-shaped boots. Some technicians note the wear pattern of the rear pads, grasp the caliper with both hands and manually check its movement.

    But Ned Lineback, an instructor at Wagner Brake Products, urged techs to visually inspect each sleeve-even though it may mean damaging the boot covering the sleeve.

    If the sleeves look well-lubricated and slide freely in the caliper housing, just replace the sleeve boots and proceed with the inspection or brake job.

    Any evidence of corrosion or sticking justifies removing the sleeves and cleaning them and the sleeve bore inside the caliper housing. Thoroughly clean all rust from the outside diameter of each sleeve, the inside diameter of the caliper housing sleeve bore and the groove into which the sleeve boot fits.

    Some brake specialists mentioned the W-Body caliper service tool kit (No. J-39495), from Kent-Moore Division of SPX Corp., which contains a hone for cleaning out rusted caliper housing sleeve boots. The kit includes a brush designed to clean sleeve boot grooves inside the sleeve bores.

    It also provides a sleeve driver for an air hammer or air chisel in order to apply extra persuasion to badly rusted sleeves.

    But Jeff Smith, service manager at Smitty's Alignment Service, Doylestown, Ohio, said many W-Body caliper sleeves are so corroded repeated hammering with the Kent-Moore driver and an air chisel is needed to loosen them.

    Silicone lubricant

    Some techs automatically upgrade the W-Body's OE steel caliper sleeves to stainless steel sleeves offered in aftermarket repair kits. Obviously, stainless steel parts don't corrode and the kits create a new caliper sliding surface via a sleeve-within the-sleeve construction.

    Other brake specialists said reusing the OE caliper sleeves presented no problems provided they were cleaned thoroughly and lubricated with pure silicone grease.

    According to Mr. Harmon, GM-as well as most brake parts firms-recommend using silicone lubricant on caliper slides that contact rubber. Techs shouldn't use petroleum-based lubricants on rubber brake parts because these tend to make rubber parts swell. The swelling, in turn, leads to sticking calipers later on, he said.

    According to Mr. Harmon, GM and major aftermarket parts suppliers offer pure silicone lubricants. Whenever a tech can't find a pure silicone lubricant from his regular suppliers, he suggested sourcing Dow-Corning Molykote 111 silicone lubricant from an industrial supplier or a bearing supplier.

    Driveability and electrical specialists also use Molykote 111 or equivalent lubricants to prevent spark plug boots from seizing on the spark plug porcelain and to prevent corrosion inside battery terminals.

    Caliper leaks

    Mr. Smith warned technicians to be wary of post-brake job caliper seal leaks on rear W-Body calipers. He explained that after retracting the caliper piston in the normal manner and taking routine service precautions, the caliper seal began leaking soon after the job was done.

    Furthermore, the leaks have not caused the customary low, spongy brake pedal symptom. Rather, the customers have called complaining about a brake fluid odor in the rear of the car. Subsequent inspections showed brake fluid leaking out onto the rear brake pads.

    As a result, Mr. Smith now recommends remanufactured rear calipers to W-Body car owners.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • List Rental
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION