I went to my mechanic last week and he said I have to replace the rear passenger side caliper and hose.

When the car was on the lift, I tried to roll the rear right wheel, but it was hard to move it, and once I let it roll by itself it didn't make even a half circle.
I seen the brake pad in slight contact with the rotor, despite that the rear brake pads are worn out and very thin now.(I don't hear any noise when I drive).
Also the parking brake cables are seized so I don't use the e-brake.

I asked the mechanic if he can adjust the caliper and he said I have to replace it ( $175 with brake hose).

I get terrible gas mileage - around 13mpg in the city despite replacing every possible part that affects mileage like tuneups + sensors.

So my question is, can I adjust the caliper or there is no choice but to replace it and where can I get it cheap ?

 

Sounds like the caliper has seized up. Best way to go is replace it, or I suppose you can rebuild it yourself with OEM parts.

 

I don't have the experience to rebuild it by myself , I''ll better replace it.
I thought it's possible to adjust them.

Do you think that the caliper could be the cause of my terrible gas mileage ?

 

if your callipers are seized then it would be the same as having your ebrake on at all times(in other words, wheels would be braking at all time), so yes, that could very well be the cause of your terrible gas millage; and probably something else too if you only get 13 mpg city (unless ur a terrible driver).

 

thats for sure.
btw replace or rebiuld your brake caliper

 

The caliper is not completely seized; I could roll the wheel with my hand when the car was on a lift, but there is a slight contact between the pad and rotor. So you right ... it brakes a little bit.

I'm not a terrible driver lol , I try to save on gas so I never rev over 2300 rpm, most often the auto tranny shifts at 2000 rpm. I can assure you I'm making every possible effort to save on gas, but it doesn't help.
I replaced all three O2 sensors, knock sensor, pcv, spark plugs, battery, oil, coolant, coolant temp sensor, air filter, fuel filter, cleaned throttle body, I'm using Lucas fuel injector cleaner.

What would be a reasonable price to pay for a rebuilt caliper ?

 

I bought mine at Autozone for about $70 after core exchange. Lifetime warranty too! I wish I would have bought from them the 1st time because this is the 2nd time I'm replacing the passenger side.

Troy

 

Which one you got - Rear or front ? did it come with a brake hose ?

The mechanic told me that from his experience if you replace the caliper, you should replace the hose too.
Is this true ?

 

There is writeup at motorvate.ca : http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/302

According to this, too much grease (and not enough air) in the caliper pins would hold the pad against the rotor just a little.

 

It's a "while you're at it, you might as well..." type of thing. You'll be disconnecting the brake line from the caliper, so you will have to bleed the system. And thus, you might as well change the brake line too.

 

I'm gonna go to Autozone and Strauss to check the prices.

 

That was for the rear brakes and the hose is not included. I did not replace the hose, they looked to be in good shape, no cracks.

Remember to use the new copper washers that come with the caliper when connecting the line.

Troy

 

I checked the Autozone online store and I see different options for the rear calipers :

Brake Caliper $99

Brake Caliper Semi-Loaded $149.99

Brake Caliper Semi-Load(New) $84.19

Brake Caliper Loaded Single $159.99

Brake Caliper Loaded Pair $130.99


Which one do I need ?

 

Are the rear brake cakipers from the auto parts stores rebuilt OEM ones? I need both rear calipers replaced. I went to do them a couple of days ago, and I couldnt turn the piston in, so had to put the old crap rotors and pads till I get the calipers resolved.

 

Most of them are rebuilt unless you see "New" in their description and they are expensive.

Which new rotors and pads did you get ? and how much did you pay ?

 

time for some 300zx calipers :P !

 

there's only an adjustment available on drum brakes, calipers are self adjusting. rears usually dont move much, hence the reason it seized. you shouldnt have to replace the hose unless it's dry rotted, bur ir's one of those might as well while we're at it things. i would invest in a new e brake cable since he wont be able to put that one back on without causing damage to the new brake pads(im sure the cable is seized slightly tighter than a brand new set of rotors/pads, therefore if you put it back on it' s going to put pressure on the caliper and wear out your pads prematurely).

 

Matrix, I bought 4 OE replacement Brembo rotors and 4 sets of Axxis deluxe plus ceramic pads from the Group Deal here on the Org. I ordered them from Jeff from Import Replacement Parts....great quality, service and price. All that for $162 shipped. I have the fronts on, and they pads work great

 

This has to be a recall I know of 8 people who had same problm and I id mine at 20,000 rear caliper...

 

+1
my rear pass caliper rusted up earlier this summer..

 

nope, your rear calipers dont do nearly as much work as the fronts, therefore they seize from lack of use. happens alot in many cars.especially in salty winter states

 

I think I will replace both rear calipers because the other one doesn't look good too. And I will replace all rotors.