Rear Calipers Sticking... Need advise ASAP

[e30crazie]

I bought a 318is about a year ago. It was sitting for a couple of years in the guys from lawn with grass growing around and under the car. When I tried to move it initially I noticed that the rear brakes were stuck and not allowing the car to move front or rear. Well I finally managed to move the car enough where I feel I dislodged the rear brakes enough to load it on a trailer. Got home fized the non running issue and let it sit for another year until I was able to pay the backed up registration fees (which I did last week). I drove it around the block and moved fast and shifted smoothly, but the brakes started to seize on me causing smoke in the rear pads.

So I am not sure where to start... If I should replace the calipers or should I replace the master cylinder or check the e-brake. I'm lost and need directions on what I should prioritize.

Has anyone encountered this issue in the past. Its only the rears and its both wheels (Pass/Driver).

Any responses would be appreciated.

[dnguyen1963]

You need to open up the brakes to see what the problems are before anyone can help you. Often time, a good cleaning can solve sticky brake pads. Caliper rebuild can be done. Getting a working caliber from a junk yard if one is close to you. Buying a reman or a new caliper might be the last option. Parking brake pads have been known to give problem to sitting cars.

[jlevie]

I would say to replace all four of the rear soft lines, rebuild the calipers, and check the condition of the parking brakes. If that fails to solve the problem, the ABS unit could be bad.

[rmdashrf]

And put silicone lubricant on the caliper guide pins.

[jlevie]

And put silicone lubricant on the caliper guide pins.

Silicone lube is neither necessary nor desirable. If you think it is needed, the guide bushings and possibly the guide bolts need to be replaced.

[e30crazie]

Thanks for your suggestions, I'm going to disassemble the rear brakes and check the calipers first. I'm going to close them up and try to clean them really good. If that fails I will start at the front and make my way back.

[TurboJake]

Could be the parking brake shoes that are rusted and bound up too. Not just the calipers.

Other than that. Replace all 4 rear rubber lines and clean out the rear calipers. Also check the slide pins. Etc.

[tonerrrr]

I had a sticking front caliper before, a rebuild fixed it. And by rebuild you just replace the piece of rubber around the piston.

The quicker and easier fix is to just buy a set of working ones off someone from the forums. They can be had for $40-$100.

The first thing though I would do to troubleshoot is to check the e-brake. Loosen it on the handle side. It costs $0 to do this and will help you assess if it's e-brake related.

[e30crazie]

Could be the parking brake shoes that are rusted and bound up too. Not just the calipers.

Other than that. Replace all 4 rear rubber lines and clean out the rear calipers. Also check the slide pins. Etc.

I dont know what the parking brake shoes are. I only know about the rear pads which close when the ebrake handle is applied. I'm just going to replace the hoses and rear calipers with some good used ones and see if that fixes the issue. Thanks for the input.

[e30crazie]

I had a sticking front caliper before, a rebuild fixed it. And by rebuild you just replace the piece of rubber around the piston.

The quicker and easier fix is to just buy a set of working ones off someone from the forums. They can be had for $40-$100.

The first thing though I would do to troubleshoot is to check the e-brake. Loosen it on the handle side. It costs $0 to do this and will help you assess if it's e-brake related.

Good tip... Ill check the handle tomorrow. If that doesnt work I'm going to start replacing parts. Thanks for the tip

[jrobie79]

rear calipers reman'd (girling) from autopart international are like 50 each...with a 1 penny core, might be worth it

[e30crazie]

rear calipers reman'd (girling) from autopart international are like 50 each...with a 1 penny core, might be worth it

No kidding... Thats about what sellers on R3V and CL want for them. I appreciate the tip. I will look into it.

[jeffnhiscars]

I dont know what the parking brake shoes are. I only know about the rear pads which close when the ebrake handle is applied. I'm just going to replace the hoses and rear calipers with some good used ones and see if that fixes the issue. Thanks for the input.

The ebrake actuates shoes that are inside the rear rotor and are not related to the pads. They are highly likely to be frozen if it sat with the ebrakes on.

I also bought some reman calipers for about $35@ so makes little sense to buy used ones that need a rebuild kit.

[e30crazie]

New update... I removed the left rear caliper today, the rubber boot around the piston was toast. Crumbles at the slightest touch.

I removed the soft line that attaches to the caliper and I was able to open the caliper. I re-installed the line and caliper and tried to retract the piston and it will not budge. Its not the caliper itself, its got to be further up the line, I'm thinking the master cylinder or the ABS unit. Any thoughts?

Also, inside of the fluid reservoir, there is lot of debris. Looks like dirt or sand but could be rust. Pretty heavy and dense and black in color.

[Roysneon]

You're making this far more complicated than it needs to be.

That caliper needs to be replaced. The fluid needs to be flushed, and I'm sure if you had the rear brakes smoking then the rear pads need to be replaced, the rotors likely need to be as well.

Take the rotor off and see what the shoes look like.

The car has been sitting undriven for two years, even I wouldn't trust the brake components that are on it anyway, and I do some ghetto shit.