so I've already read in the TSB's why the brakes would groan. since im broke and can't resurface the rotors, I simply changed my braking styles to long and moderate pressure rather than short intermittent braking. That prevented that layer from being caked onto the rotor. The squeaking was resolved by applying anti-seize here n there in between. NOW a new culprit has come. I know I have both seized calipers in the rear. maybe one in the front. When coming to a complete stop, I get a much louder sound, something equivalent to feedback from a microphone hooked to large speakers. Anyone else get the same? is it the seized caliper not compressed/depressed all the way? so frustrated. It's come to a point where I'm just going to drive the maxi with the mentality "as long as it runs" =T never thought i'd come to that. how can i buy my ks, coilpacks, wheels and drop if my car cant even stop sexy?

 

Mine was the passenger side rear. It would make a grinding noise, similar to worn out brake pads touching metal to metal on the rotors. My lower piston was seized (compressed) and caused the bottom portion of the rear side of the brake pad to touch the rotors all the time. Take off your wheels, and on the pistons, there is a 14mm screw for each on the back side(there are two, one on the top, the other on the bottom portion of the rear calipers). See if you can physically move the piston, if you can't, well its seized and if you can hammer it out, you're lucky. I couldn't do that and replaced the entire caliper and the noise stopped.

 

Sounds like something isn't seated correctly. Did you reuse the old shims or put new ones in? Did you bleed the brakes? Did you lube the guide pins and areas where the pad slides on the calipers? Did you make sure the rear pistons were positioned correctly so the nubs lined up with the pad indentations?

 

Also for reference, if you do need new rear brake calipers, I've called around places such as Autozone, Champion, Checker, Advance ect... They all range from $145-$180 (before core fee, which was about $75-$90) for remanufactured 'loaded' (meaning with brake pads) calipers.

 

Hi, Loe max, I'm looking for a cheap rear left brake caliper now. Could you please tell me where to get a cheapest one? Any links? Thanks!
BTW, kbmaxima, you should pay attention to your wheel. You can try to touch it to see how hot it is. Mine is burning So I think I need a new caliper.

 

Did it ever occur to you kbmaxima that perhaps you should forego the wheels and drop and spend the equivalent money on maintaining your car? I get the sense its a high miler for a 99 and could use some TLC, rather than cosmetic enhancements at this time.

 

yes. All I have done so far is a 90k service, brakes/rotors changed. I'm a fulltime college student, working two menial jobs [~60/week]- one day and one nightjob, going to classes, caring for my grandmother at the nursing home, i barely get by just paying my bills and eating everyday if I'm lucky. So yea, I've thought about it, and I've acted on it

 

I had the same thing happen. Both rear calipers were frozen. This became dangerous because when i took the thing apart I noticed my rear inboard pads were about down to the metal.

I got a pair of loaded calipers with brackets at autozone for about $120. I checked again the other day and they are 160. Still better than buying each side separately.

 

The cheapest place would be looking for one at a salvage yard. I got quotes from $30-$45 but I didn't want to risk buying a used one.