Leaking Brake Calipers

[Mike Jung]

How often do stock type Brake Calipers go bad ?

I had both front ones replaced this spring (along with rotors & pads).

A month later found one was leaking (brake fluid).

Now I find out that the other one is leaking.

Both times the garage is changing them out for no-charge.

[juanvan]

Umm unless your hitting something that hitting the caliper piston rubber they should just about never go bad... Humm did they put new ones on? or were they remaned?

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by juanvan

Umm unless your hitting something that hitting the caliper piston rubber they should just about never go bad... Humm did they put new ones on? or were they remaned?

They were suppose to be new (I think).

[juanvan]

wow Thats some cheepie.. (made) I did have one freeze - but it sat open over a winter, should have changed the pads before storing the car.

[LAXstar47]

you might want to check to make sure the valve that releases air out of the line is closed all the way, but if that was the problem the brakes wouldn't work to well period

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by juanvan

Umm unless your hitting something that hitting the caliper piston rubber they should just about never go bad... Humm did they put new ones on? or were they remaned?

Turns out, they were re-built's.

But the shop foreman claims the stock type calipers are junk.
They are made of aluminum & have a high replacement/failure rate.

[Malaclypse]

Originally Posted by Mike Jung

Turns out, they were re-built's.

But the shop foreman claims the stock type calipers are junk.
They are made of aluminum & have a high replacement/failure rate.

Heh. No? I've only ever seen one factory caliper leak/seize/etc in six years of dealership employment. Is this an aftermarket shop or a dealership?

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by Malaclypse

Heh. No? I've only ever seen one factory caliper leak/seize/etc in six years of dealership employment. Is this an aftermarket shop or a dealership?

My OEM factory calipers went bad, the Raybestos calipers that I replaced them with were going bad, & the re-built ones I was using went bad.

It is not a dealership.

But they do specialize in GM vehicles (& work on others too).
They are also an "Approved AC Delco Training Center"; what ever that means.
& part of a major AC Delco franchise with General Motors (Canada).

[Cliff8928]

That's nuts! I still have my 17,300 mile old calipers in the garage in a box if you need some new ones.

[lone_wolf025]

It can happen, but remans that come from a manufacturer are typically just as good as new ones. If they're leaking like that after the replacements, my thought would be to look at other aspects. As for me, I've had the car for over two years and I've had one caliper replaced due to a binding piston.

Leaking calipers is actually uncommon in my experience. Look real hard at the rest of the system.

[juanvan]

Your going thru some calipers.. Maybe a block in the line thats not really bad could be causing a problem...

Have they all leaked like this?

[Malaclypse]

Here's a thought... Any kind of fluid contamination can wreak havoc on a braking system. If a different fluid like power steering fluid was added by accident at a lube place it could eat up seals.

Theres not really any sure direction to point the finger, but you may consider having the brake system flushed.

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by juanvan

Your going thru some calipers.. Maybe a block in the line thats not really bad could be causing a problem...

Have they all leaked like this?

Eventually...they all leaked a little.

Originally Posted by Malaclypse

Here's a thought... Any kind of fluid contamination can wreak havoc on a braking system. If a different fluid like power steering fluid was added by accident at a lube place it could eat up seals.

Theres not really any sure direction to point the finger, but you may consider having the brake system flushed.

Yeah, I got the brake fluid flushed & changed when I had the Raybestos calipers, rotors, & pads installed a few years ago.

I also had the brake fluid flushed & changed this spring too.
When I had the calipers, rotors, & pads changed again.

Actually, I have had the brake fluid flushed & re-fill each time I have had the brakes done.
3x in 10-years.

[juanvan]

have you ever replaced the master cylinder..
Thats the last piece in this...

What about the rears ne problems there?

[Malaclypse]

Just sounds like a string of bad calipers at this point.... No idea man.

[gaowners32]

Iv replaced mine once a year.....but I beat the **** outta mine

[juanvan]

Anything come of this?

[Mike Jung]

Originally Posted by juanvan

have you ever replaced the master cylinder..
Thats the last piece in this...

What about the rears ne problems there?

Still the factory original master cylinder.

No, problems with the rears.
The rears are drum brakes though; & still factory original.

Originally Posted by juanvan

Anything come of this?

Replaced the calipers.

So far ok **cross my fingers**.

[Mike Jung]

I dropped (now) my Mom's Grand AM to the garage this morning.

For noise in the rear drum brakes, & now the brake warning light is on.
& there was a fluid leak.


It's back again

(& this spring they replaced the front-right caliper for free (under warranty), when doing a safety inspection for ownership transfer to my Mom.)

Turns out the front caliper(s) are leaking.
Causing the brake fluid level to drop.
Just started noticing spots on the driveway last week.

The garage is going to change out both front calipers for FREE (under warranty) for me
They are going to use a different brand of calipers this time.
The owner of the company is going to be writing a letter to GM about the AC Delco brake calipers.
As they are an "Approved AC Delco Training Center".
& a major AC Delco part wholesaler for the area.


& they recommended a service/cleaning/adjusting of the rear drum brakes.
The rear drum brakes are still factory original at 11.5-years old & 147K km/91.3K miles.

[juanvan]

Well that is good they are going to change them out for free - But still does not explain how they came to leak again... Very lame..