Hello
I have a bunch of 60 series crusiers, but this is actually about the later model 80 series front calipers that mount in front of the rotors (because they are similair to 97 4runner front calipers).
My brother(97 4runner) thought that he was adding to the power steering fluid, but actually added it to the brake fluid reservoir which looked a little low. It was clear powersteering fluid, and part of the title in spanish said "hydraulic". The brakes a few weeks later started pulling to one side and periodically would lock up and not allow the vehicle to even move. I got the calipers thinking they might need changing. The calipers seemed siezed, I couldn't get the pistons to retract at all. When I pulled the pads I found that the pistons would move easily as long as another piston had space to move, it was like the pressurized brake fluid was trapped in the caliper. I had to change the pads but the new ones would not fit in, I had to open the bleeder valve to get them in. I bleed what I thought would be plenty of fluid to get rid of that thick fluid that my brother put in, I didn't bleed the rear brakes though. Two weeks later the brakes are locking up again. I should have bleed the rear but it was getting late.
My question is, since there is no check engine light, is this due to the addition of the thick generic power steering fluid? Or is there something else that could cause this? I am going over tomorrow and this time I am going to make sure that I bleed the whole system, will this do the trick?
Thanks
ERICH
I have a bunch of 60 series crusiers, but this is actually about the later model 80 series front calipers that mount in front of the rotors (because they are similair to 97 4runner front calipers).
My brother(97 4runner) thought that he was adding to the power steering fluid, but actually added it to the brake fluid reservoir which looked a little low. It was clear powersteering fluid, and part of the title in spanish said "hydraulic". The brakes a few weeks later started pulling to one side and periodically would lock up and not allow the vehicle to even move. I got the calipers thinking they might need changing. The calipers seemed siezed, I couldn't get the pistons to retract at all. When I pulled the pads I found that the pistons would move easily as long as another piston had space to move, it was like the pressurized brake fluid was trapped in the caliper. I had to change the pads but the new ones would not fit in, I had to open the bleeder valve to get them in. I bleed what I thought would be plenty of fluid to get rid of that thick fluid that my brother put in, I didn't bleed the rear brakes though. Two weeks later the brakes are locking up again. I should have bleed the rear but it was getting late.
My question is, since there is no check engine light, is this due to the addition of the thick generic power steering fluid? Or is there something else that could cause this? I am going over tomorrow and this time I am going to make sure that I bleed the whole system, will this do the trick?
Thanks
ERICH
If I remember correctly the final bill/invoice I received was around $5000. This was for a Oldsmobile 98. I also remember the power steering fluid breaking down the rubber brake lines and all joints and seals were shot after less than 500 miles driving on it.
