Brake seized

[DuRWooD]

So my front left brake seized on today on the way into work. Any suggestions for a temporary fix to get it home, can't buy any parts as tomorrow is Canada day.

:help

[David325e]

Hey man, good to see you kept the car. My only advice would be disconnect the caliper. You'd have to bleed the system and don't know how long you'd have power on the other 3. Wonder if theres any was to plug that line.

Have you tried opening the bleed nipple on that caliper, what happens? Does it move enough you can just take it slow and burn through those pads?

[DuRWooD]

Hey man, good to see you kept the car. My only advice would be disconnect the caliper. You'd have to bleed the system and don't know how long you'd have power on the other 3. Wonder if theres any was to plug that line.

Have you tried opening the bleed nipple on that caliper, what happens? Does it move enough you can just take it slow and burn through those pads?

I didn't have a chance to try anything, had to work. I pulled over when this happened, smoke was rolling out of the wheel. I let it cool off and it freed up enough to drive. I just drove it the rest of the way to work without using the brake too much. Definitely felt bad the whole way in though. It's parked at work right now, and I'm at home.

I do have a spare set of calipers, but they seem pretty rusty, the bleed screws are snapped off, and I can't get the pistons to move.

To get it towed home would cost me a fortune too :(

Also, it's a 45km drive home, so I'd rather not drive it as is that far.

[DuRWooD]

Well, a quick update/rant on this. I had no time to fix the car until today. Story: Made it home on the seized caliper, it freed up a bit and I drove it home really slowly.

Parked it in the garage and borrowed my parents' minivan. Worked/went away every day since until today.

Last night I worked night shift, and waited around after work to pick up the caliper I ordered. I get it home, mask it up and paint it black, wait a couple hours for it to dry in the sun.

Anyway, I get the old caliper off the car, start putting the pads in the new one when I notice the bleed valve and hose threads are on the bottom, I'm on no sleep, so I tried to figure it out for a minute, then realized they gave me the wrong caliper!

I call them up, a little ticked off as it's my only day to work on the car until next Monday or Tuesday. They can't get a caliper, I have them call around to all the other shops to get one, no one has one.

So, looks like I'll be borrowing the minivan another day at least. Hopefully the right one comes tomorrow, and I can get it done after work.

Do you think I can get my money back on a caliper I painted?

[acepilot]

I'd say it's pretty hard to get your money back. If your calipers are in the same condition on each side, just replace both of them. At least you know that they're in good shape and won't leave you stranded.

Ace

[sfgearhead]

+1, if one is bad, the other is likely not far behind.

Bleed your brakes well too and maybe the rears will last longer.

[DuRWooD]

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. The seized one did have a missing dust boot for a couple of years, but they are looking pretty rusty, both it is. At least my pads and rotors are still good.

[94530inh]

I'd replace the pads and the rotors. If you were driving with a dragging caliper, I would bet that the extreme heat warped the rotor.

[DuRWooD]

I'd replace the pads and the rotors. If you were driving with a dragging caliper, I would bet that the extreme heat warped the rotor.

I clamped a piece of metal right next to the rotor and spun it, it's true as far as I can tell, and in good shape. If it shakes when I brake, it's not a big deal to get the rotor after. The pads are like new, why replace those?