Help! Caliper not lining up after new brake pads.. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

mntoyotaguy · 01-06-2009, 06:03 PM

98 lexus brake issue

My new brake pads fit between the caliper and the rotor just fine, but when I go to pop the bottom bolt back in the caliper... the top (open) portion of the caliper overlaps the bottom portion of the caliper, preventing me from inserting the bolt and finishing the job.

Any ideas? The top (sliding pin on the caliper seems to move just fine, so I know that is not seized-up).

I'm sure I have the right pads. I double and triple checked em.

fireitup · 01-06-2009, 11:20 PM

I am having the same issue with my 98 camry. My upper sliding pin is not seized but the bottom seems to be the problem. Do both the pins(upper and lower) move freely?

***toyomoho*** · 01-06-2009, 11:41 PM

Not sure I understand what the problem is.

***new echo owner*** · 01-07-2009, 12:42 AM

Are you talking about the front or the rear?

For the front, both upper and lower pins should slide at same, if one doesn't move then the pin is stuck. Sometimes you can work it loose on the vehicle, other times, you have to take the bracket off and put it on a vise.

For the rear, the top slider pin mounts on the bracket, but the lower one is a sleeve that slides on the caliper itself, the sleeve usually get a little sticky, just give it a firm push and then take it out to apply some lube.

N.E.O.

fireitup · 01-07-2009, 09:56 AM

I am talking about the front brakes. I bought some PB Blaster, hopefully that will help free up the stuck pin.

mntoyotaguy · 01-07-2009, 02:03 PM

A guy on this forum helped me out with this yesterday.. It just takes a tap or two with the hammer to get that bottom pin un-stuck. I couldn't find my hammer, so I just used a small block of wood and an aluminum baseball bat to punch it back into place. It worked slick! Hopefully yours is sorted out by now..

fireitup · 01-07-2009, 02:13 PM

I will give this a shot, thanks!

fireitup · 01-08-2009, 08:55 AM

I have tried hammering the sliding pin back into place and soaking it with PB Blaster but it wont budge. Any other suggestions!?
I would rather not replace the caliper, but that thing sure is stuck! I have taken the bracket off the car to work with it at this point...

Hajoca · 01-08-2009, 09:49 AM

Since you ave spent so much time already, take the bottom pin out and re-grease it with brake grease or antiseize so that it will slide in and out properly.

fireitup · 01-08-2009, 04:17 PM

That is actually the problem, the sliding pin is stuck in the caliper bracket... I have tried just about everything to get the dang thing out

***new echo owner*** · 01-08-2009, 07:18 PM

Take the bracket off and put it in a vise, clamp the pin down and turn the bracket. You can replace the pin by itself without replacing the bracket if you can pull it off.

N.E.O.

fireitup · 01-09-2009, 05:33 PM

After two hours working with the bracket in a vice, the pin finally came loose! I had to take a blowtorch and some paraffin wax to the stubborn pin and in the process vaporized all rubber seals/bushings. I guess its better than replacing the whole bracket! Thanks for all your help folks

Mike Gerber · 01-10-2009, 01:47 PM

Glad you got it out. Clean the hole inside the bracket thoroughly before regreasing and reinserting the new slide pin. If you know anyone with a sandblasting cabinet it will take about 5 seconds to do this. Then blow the hole clean of all blasting media with compressed air. If no sand blaster is available, some sandpaper wraped around a pencil will do; you just have to work harder. Then add some fresh grease to the hole and the slide pin and reinstert it.

Mike