How can I tell if the calipers are seizing up. My rear brake pads are pretty close to the rotors, about maybe 0.5mm of space left, is this normal?

 

Old Rochester NY.. LoL you probably have a great deal of road salt on them. I used to live there. I'm sure they are still working. The only way you can see if they are seized up is to take them off and try to work the piston back into the housing. I believe you have to turn the caliper piston counter clock wise to get it to go back. Its either that way or clock wise. If it doesn't go back then yes you'll need a new caliper. Your brake pad life won't tell you if they are siezed.

 

i just finished installing new pads and rotors on my rear brakes and the pistons are tough to turn in general. the brake fluid is pushing out on the pistons so if you try to trun them without relieving some pressure off of them you will find it nearly impossible to trun them back in (ask jepht20).

p.s.
you turn them clockwise

 

If you're going to try to put the piston back into the housing, pick up one of these:

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/ap7860.html

You can borrow it from Autozone for a $35 deposit or so, but you get a full refund when you return the kit. I just changed all my pads last night and without that tool it would've been pretty tough to get them back in. Have someone watch your master cylinder reservoir (although the fluid didn't really seem to rise too much when I did the rears, more so when I did the front calipers)

 

What I think the word that you guys are going for is ceased, not seized. Ceased means that its stuck and can't move. To seize means to take. Its "ceased" fellas.