Changed my rear brakes and I noticed the right rear caliper was hard to turn back in. Does that mean it's time to replace or rebuild?

 

Exercise it, pump the piston out with the brake pedal and screw it back in. If it doesn't free it up, replace or rebuild it.

 

Thanks

 

4th gen Maxima is known to have rear brake caliper seized up, I had replaced 2 times in less than 2 years, but since I got Autozone life time waranttee so the replacement parts is free.

 

Not necessarily make sure that emergency brake cable moves freely...if you have all that off!

 

If you'll be exchanging it for a reman caliper then test the caliper at the store. Push on the parking brake solenoid bracket several times to slide the piston out. Try turning it back in CW with needle nose pliers. If it doesn't slide back in then ask for another RR caliper.

After installing a rear caliper a few years back I noticed the piston was seized after bleeding out the caliper and testing it. Since then I always test the rear calipers at the store before exchanging them.

 

what causes them to seize up

 

A reman caliper that has never been used seizes up due to poor assembly. A caliper with thousands of miles most often seizes up when the piston rusts due to the leaking seals. Another cause can be a rusted parking brake cable or the parking brake solenoid within the caliper seized. Freezing temperatures will seize a dried piston or solenoid quicker.

 

ok thanks for that info

 

Be sure to check those parking brake cables!!!!