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Brake Caliper Help (Update #2 with picture of charges)

Posted on 5/5/14 at 11:45 pm
Posted by prairiedog
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Feb 2014
153 posts
Posted on 5/5/14 at 11:45 pm
First of all I had pads replaced and rotors turned in January of this year. I noticed a pulling/vibrate when I pressed my brake today. I pulled over and got out to inspect. The front left tire/rim had smoke coming from it and I could smell burnt rubber. I drove directly to a dealership. They told me that it was probably the caliper. They said they would likely need replace both calipers on the front end along with new pads and rotor service. I am a stranded driver and don't want to be taken advantage of. They will likely tell me that they won't service just the caliper. They will need to do everything they can find so I don't wreck and die. Mechanics of the OB unite. What should I expect? TIA!



Update:

They told me they were going to check first thing this morning to see if they could get the calipers. The guys exact words were, "we won't slap anything on the vehicle without calling you first". I just got a call saying my vehicle was ready. I asked them how much damage was done and the lady said $680. The service manager told me it would be it would be $500 max yesterday. I told her to have them take everything off and I was going to take it somewhere else. She said she would have the service manager call me. He called to apologize for no one calling and said that both rotors needed replacing. He went through the normal "I'm trying to help you" talk and worked it down to $580 for 2 new calipers, new pads and 2 new rotors. I know he is still making money. Are they still taking advantage of me?

Update #2:

I went to pick it up and asked to see the parts. The old rotors were both in bad shape. Here is a picture of the description of service and parts:
This post was edited on 5/6/14 at 3:40 pm
Posted by Bleeding purple
Athens, Texas
Member since Sep 2007
25315 posts
Posted on 5/5/14 at 11:50 pm to
Is vehicle under warranty?
Did dealership do brake job previously?
Posted by prairiedog
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Feb 2014
153 posts
Posted on 5/5/14 at 11:51 pm to
No and no.

Posted by Bleeding purple
Athens, Texas
Member since Sep 2007
25315 posts
Posted on 5/5/14 at 11:55 pm to
Take back to previous brake place.
Your problem is in left wheel so have them only fix that one band show you the damaged part.
Posted by prairiedog
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Feb 2014
153 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 12:05 am to
I'm 400 miles from that place. Probably not a good idea to drive it in the condition it's in I presume.
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 12:17 am to
You sure it smelled like burnt rubber? You wouldn't need both sides serviced if only one was bad. Did the pins have grease on them?

They are trying to screw you honestly. Did they really say it was probably the calipers, and not it was definitely the calipers?
Posted by prairiedog
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Feb 2014
153 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 12:39 am to
Yeah, it is a pretty distinct smell. They were unable to look at it today because it was so late. Some guy test drove it. He said he was sure that that caliper was locking up. The service manager said that they would have to change both of the front calipers with brake pads already loaded. He also said that that one rotor if not both would definitely need servicing. He said it would be in the $500 ballpark.
This post was edited on 5/6/14 at 12:40 am
Posted by Boats n Hose
NOLA
Member since Apr 2011
37248 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 12:49 am to
It's hard to say for sure without looking at it but if it were me, just from what I'm reading, I'd have them replace only the caliper on the left side, leave the same rotor, and maybe even brake pad unless it was really worn from the caliper locking.

If they wouldn't want to do it I'd just tell them get fricked and bring it to the next closest place
Posted by Flyin'Cajun
Wiregrass, AL
Member since Dec 2011
958 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 12:49 am to
Well, your first mistake was taking it to a dealership....I'd find another place to take it and get another opinion. Stealerships are terrible...the mark up on parts is crazy.

I just replaced my brake pads, rotors, calipers, and brake lines on the front end and spent less than $500...and that was for higher performance parts. Of course I did the work....
This post was edited on 5/6/14 at 12:51 am
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 12:53 am to
Brake pads that come inside a caliper? That's the first time I've heard of that. I'd get one rotor with pads, and possibly both calipers. Sounds like that one side is just sticking because of dirt, etc in the piston. The other caliper is probably not too far away from doing the same.

The seals sometimes wear out and allow shite to get in them. The rotor is probably warped because of the heat, and the pads are probably glazed over. Other side should be good though.

I'd guess calipers are like $150 per, rotors $85 per, and pads $30 per. $500 to replace all of that is a good deal. If you've got the extra couple of hundred bucks, I'd swap everything



Eta: A glazed pad won't bed into a new rotor like it should because the pads are now much harder, basically charred. New pads and turned rotor would work though. I'd just go with the whole shoot n match if I were you.
This post was edited on 5/6/14 at 1:00 am
Posted by Boats n Hose
NOLA
Member since Apr 2011
37248 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 1:05 am to
quote:

500 to replace all of that is a good deal

True dat
Posted by cajuncarguy
On the road...Again!
Member since Jun 2013
3135 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 1:40 am to
I think you are probably getting good advice> You may get away with just the one side but the real issue is why did this happen. You just had a brake job and you may have the wrong brake fluid or old brake fluid. Bad or old fluid can cause the the rubber seals in the calipers to swell and not release the hydraulic pressure when the brake pedal is released causing the caliper to stay in the applied position. I would have them do what they suggested and also replace the fluid with factory fresh fluid. Sounds like you are a long way from home and you don't need this happening again.
Posted by diat150
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
43468 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 5:17 am to
more than likely the pins werent greased.
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 5:26 am to
To me, it sounds like the rotor on the bad side was warped to start with or the caliper was about to go out. If you felt vibration from the start when applying brakes, the rotor was in fact warped.

What kind of car OP?

I just did a brake job on my sons jeep. Had to replace both front rotors and pads. Cost was just over $120 for parts.
Posted by prairiedog
Hattiesburg, MS
Member since Feb 2014
153 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 7:44 am to
2008 F150
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 7:47 am to
quote:

more than likely the pins werent greased.


This is my best guess and chances are they didn't do the other one either
Posted by VetteGuy
Member since Feb 2008
28082 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 8:45 am to
quote:

rotors turned


I didn't think anyone did this anymore.
Posted by kook
Berrytown
Member since Sep 2013
1892 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 9:42 am to
A very trusted mechanic told me once, that most fly by night rotor turners don't do a smooth enough cut. The pads will ride and vibrate on the micro grooves left behind. I learned my lesson about turning rotors at HI-LO
Posted by Captain Rumbeard
Member since Jan 2014
4043 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 9:44 am to
Piston repair kit that I did mine with was about six dollars online. Beat buying a whole caliper by a long shot. And I agree with them about that rotor being warped. But that could have happened because a pad was riding it and overheated it.
Posted by TexasTiger01
Lake Houston
Member since Nov 2013
3215 posts
Posted on 5/6/14 at 9:46 am to
A collapsed hose can cause this problem. Right now they are guessing that it's your caliper. Have them change the left brake hose and bleed first. Its a cheaper way to start the process of elimination.
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