Sticking Caliper?

So I've been having a problem for a while that felt like something was keeping the Durango from moving when I've been driving a while in traffic and I try to take off from a stop light. There would be some resistance and then whatever it was would feel like it would pop loose and off I went.

So finally today it started to smell brake lining and when I pulled into a parking lot I saw the left rear smoking and it was HOT. So I'm pretty sure the Caliper is sticking and not releasing all the way.

Since I've never dealt with something like this before, is there a way to fix this? Or is it time for a new Caliper? I'm probably going to need to change my brake fluid anyways, being that it's been a while since that's been done.

depends if its a slider or the piston.

sliders may not be too bad (if it will come apart)

piston, either you are rebuilding it, or getting a rebuilt caliper.

just get the caliper at that point.

Any disc brake rear truck has neverending trouble with seized caliper slides. Some manufacturers are leaning back towards drums. I know it wouldn't hurt my feelings to have them on my Silverado.

so that begs the question … why more trouble with rear disk brakes on trucks than with cars ?

wbjones wrote: so that begs the question … why more trouble with rear disk brakes on trucks than with cars ?

Lots of trouble with sliding calipers on the rear of cars, too. I presume it depends on your climate. We seldom see a rear disc setup in the shop without at least one seized slide.

Whatever you do, torque it down to 10,000.

If you slides are free and it still is hanging up , open the bleeder and if it releases it is a hose problem if not a caliper. I just went through this with a Honda odyssey.

Streetwiseguy wrote:

wbjones wrote: so that begs the question … why more trouble with rear disk brakes on trucks than with cars ?

Lots of trouble with sliding calipers on the rear of cars, too. I presume it depends on your climate. We seldom see a rear disc setup in the shop without at least one seized slide.

thanks for the answer …

the only time I seem to have any rear caliper problems is if I leave the parking brake engaged and don't drive the car for several weeks … eventually that results in a seized caliper

stan_d wrote: If you slides are free and it still is hanging up , open the bleeder and if it releases it is a hose problem if not a caliper. I just went through this with a Honda odyssey.

I'll check this out.