Real time help needed - rear brake caliper

[NearJetties]

Thanks in advance.

I just replaced two broken wheel studs on the passenger rear. Followed the the FSM, the FAQ and all the YouTube videos I watched. That went fine until I went to re-install the rear caliper. Everything I looked at made seem to be a slide off and back on affair

The pads were tight on the rotor and there was a big gap between the caliper and the mounting surface. Ok, tried compressing the piston and it reduced the gap. They gap narrowed but still contacting the rotor a bit. No mention in the FSM of doing anything but compressing and making sure the pads were seated.

I figured it should figure itself out when I torqued the wheel down and give it a since it looks like a sliding caliper.

It seemed to free up but I’m getting some rubbing when I drive.

What did I f up now?

Seems a little better after some hard stops but not gone

 

[NearJetties]

Thinking I need to do a better job compressing the piston and open the bleeder valve and/or reservoir cap

 

[wvrx]

Use C clamp to retract piston more, however it shouldn’t be dragging when driving - are you feeling it or hearing a noise? Perhaps you accidentally bent the heat shield into the rotor if you hear something dragging?

 

[MJK]

Channel locks, c-clamps or other tools can force the piston back into the caliper and allow it to be slid over the rotor and be mounted for reassembly. If you have already done that, then go for a short drive and when you get home immediately touch each rim. If one side is substantially hotter than the one on the other side, that is an indicator something is dragging that should not be.

If that is the case, the caliper is not functioning correctly. If this has gone on for a while, you should be able to see it in accelerated or uneven pad wear. Most of the time this is down to worn slide pins, improperly lubed/cleaned side mechanisms and/or torn slide boots. Separate the caliper from the bracket, take these apart and clean/lube them. If that is not what is causing it, then the piston is probably binding in the caliper and it is time to rebuild or replace. Autozone etc rebuilds them.

YMMV. This is only my experience.

 

[NearJetties]

Disassembled and used a C clamp I picked up. Guess the screw driver method wasn’t cutting it