Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 14:19:02 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Sticking front calipers
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 4/1/2007 7:55:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM writes:
I
suspect once on the highway, provided I don't apply the brakes, they will
back off after a while (or wear off...),
Yeah, they won't. The problem is the piston is sticking and it'll "adjust"
it's sticking in a way that will make the pad continue to drag--and that's a
best case scenario. At a minimum you probably won't get too far in an atempt to
run it for 1000 miles at highway speeds. Worse case is it sticks all together
and doesn't release.
Some scenarios you might fin are glazing the pad and losing braking power.
It's possible the heating of the braking components on the troubled wheel and
just the simple sticking could result in it seizing up around the rotor. Ever
been travelling at 60 and have one front wheel lock up?
Even if you got really lucky on this one, at a bare minimum your braking will
be uneven.
On a less important note you run the risk of compromising other parts in the
area. The rotor could warp from the heat. I'm not sure waht else exactly, but
none of it is good.
But in case I was too subtle with the "one front wheel locking up" crack: you
can't take this vehicle on 1000 mile trip. Your braking system isn't the one
you want to be "hoping" will work when you KNOW it's malfunctioning. Arguably
it's the most important system in the vehicle--if you don't count your own
cardio-vascular system.
Installing a new caliper is a pretty quick repair. If it were me I'd replace
both left and right, although I'm not sure this is required. Logic would
dictate the New caliper will work better than the old one on the other side. But
I'm sure there are those who might argue it makes no sense to replace both. I
would still say I would replace both as a pair. IF this is not "required" then
it's your choice.
I don't know where you are in California. Here in SoCal there are options to
get the caliper same day. Some cheaper than others. BMA on Victory in Burbank
has good prices on OEM calipers.
If you're holding out for a good price on the calipers you're waiting for,
I'd argue the money saved isn't worth the potential damage, personal injury that
could come from your situation.
Either way, you've gotta fix it before you go anywhere.
Good Luck.
Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
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