How do I uncease my rear calipers on my 97 Mercury Sable?

Question

This is the second time this has happened between break changes.... Why does this keep happening? How do I prevent it from happening again? So howdo I free them up?... they arent that old..

Answer 1

Remove caliper pins and clean, lubricate with the brake pin grease, like the other guy said. If the pistons them self are seized rebuild or replacing the caliper is going to be the only option. Moisture getting past the boots for the pistons can certainly cause your problems. To try and free up the pistons and keep using the same calipers will mean the same problem over and over again. Drilling holes into your caliper to put in a grease fitting should never be done. Those caliper pins have rubber boots around them too, and almost all manufactures make kits for the pins as well. Take another look and see whats really seizing up.

Answer 2

That all depends what is seized on your caliper. If it is the Piston.....then I would recommend just changing the caliper. But from my experience it is usually the pins that the caliper slides on. These must be lubricated with a high temp grease. I personally use silicone paste. The rubber boots must be in good condition to keep the elements out. If the pins are seized you can try this solution that has worked for me many times. You will need a Drill, Grease fitting and a grease gun. You will drill a hole at the end of the caliper where the pin would hit the bottom (From the outside to the inside). Screw in the grease fitting. Using the grease gun keep pumping the grease in till the pin pushes out. A wrench or pliers will help extracting the pin. Just turn it back and forth while pumping the grease gun. A hand held grease gun exerts a pressure of approx 3000 PSI. When you get the pin out clean it on a wire wheel and lubricate. Leave the grease fitting in. No water will enter. Good LUCK

Answer 3

Bob, On these miserable calipers you will find a curled up rear brake cable return spring two things happen: The springs loose tension on the emergency brake cables or the cables become frozen causing the very problem you're having. Release some tension on your EM brake cable underneath the LR passenger foot well. If the end of the cables do not move freely at the very end of the caliper hook you'll know the cables are rusted or corroded internally.

If the cables are OK the problem is inside your caliper slider pins. Field strip them inspect clean with brake clean polish pins with a Scotchbrite pad be sure pin receiver holes are clean. Re-grease with genuine synthetic caliper pin lube re assemble and you're good to go.

Good luck with your project!

Answer 4

bob, it might not be the piston thats freezing up, it might be where the caliper slides on the anchor, take them off and use some sandpaper on the anchor(the slides, where the caliper bolts up to)then put some high temp. grease on the slides. the piston isnt the only thing that moves, the whole caliper moves too, and it might be rusty and hanging up.