Caliper Locked Up???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
Caliper Locked Up???
Took the Vette out for a drive this past weekend. Came to a stop light and smelled what I thought was rubber. Didn't think much about it. But when I came to the next light, I pulled over, got out, and seen smoke coming from my drivers side rear wheel. The wheel itself was coated with brake dust.
What would cause this??
How do I fix it??
Thanks
What would cause this??
How do I fix it??
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Took the Vette out for a drive this past weekend. Came to a stop light and smelled what I thought was rubber. Didn't think much about it. But when I came to the next light, I pulled over, got out, and seen smoke coming from my drivers side rear wheel. The wheel itself was coated with brake dust.
What would cause this??
How do I fix it??
Thanks
What would cause this??
How do I fix it??
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
They have a bad habit after some years, of swelling internally, and passing the fluid down to activate with pressure from m/cyl...but restrict the return pressures badly enough to keep pads applied....
happened to me on my '72 here about a year? ago....
happened to me on my '72 here about a year? ago....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
So I can rule out the caliper itself, then?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Sounds like you think, your caliper is sticking the brake dust from the e brake should not coat the rims as bad as you say . go to Auto zone buy two new calipers (Lifetime warranty Delco ) bleed em and check the ebrake for bad springs .
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
I am going to take yours and Batman's advice and change out the calipers and rubber lines!!
Thanks to everyone!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
My thanks to wombvette and Batman!!! 
Here's what happened:
Changed out both rear calipers and pads. i bought new rubber lines, but I thought heck with it, the old ones are about locked on!! So I tried bleeding my new calipers, and sure enough the side that I originally said had locked up, I could not get a drop of fluid to come out. Sprayed a crap load of PB Blaster on the rubber hose fittings, waited an hour and then took it off. Sure enpough when I got the rubber line off, fluid was dripping from the open steel line. Put on the new hose and then it was no problem bleeding that side.
Again my thanks to those of you on the Forum that are much smarter than me when it comes to Vette problems!!!
Here's what happened:
Changed out both rear calipers and pads. i bought new rubber lines, but I thought heck with it, the old ones are about locked on!! So I tried bleeding my new calipers, and sure enough the side that I originally said had locked up, I could not get a drop of fluid to come out. Sprayed a crap load of PB Blaster on the rubber hose fittings, waited an hour and then took it off. Sure enpough when I got the rubber line off, fluid was dripping from the open steel line. Put on the new hose and then it was no problem bleeding that side.
Again my thanks to those of you on the Forum that are much smarter than me when it comes to Vette problems!!!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Temple TX
my wheel on passenger rear is locked up as well but I have fully bled the system. I think it is my e brake. When i pull on the lever inside the car, i can see that the ebrake line is going taunt and releasing as it should. Is there anyway i can brake the ebrake free w/o having to take it apart?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
my wheel on passenger rear is locked up as well but I have fully bled the system. I think it is my e brake. When i pull on the lever inside the car, i can see that the ebrake line is going taunt and releasing as it should. Is there anyway i can brake the ebrake free w/o having to take it apart?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
[QUOTE=desi;1562458980]I thought rears had steel line, not rubber? Am I missing something? I just did my 74 rears and I don't recall seeing any rubber lines?[/QUOTE
There is a steel line running from the master to the back of the car and then a short rubber hose, and then a short steel line from the rubber hose to the caliper. it has to have this short rubber hose because of the flexing up and down of the rear.
There is a steel line running from the master to the back of the car and then a short rubber hose, and then a short steel line from the rubber hose to the caliper. it has to have this short rubber hose because of the flexing up and down of the rear.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
The rears are a bit odd for an independent suspension design. Instead of having the rubber lines connected directly to the caliper, the flex lines connect the chassis line and the hard caliper lines, somewhat similar to a solid-axle car or truck (though those usually only have one flex line).
