Sticking Brake Calipers
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
Sticking Brake Calipers
Hi everyone, a friend has a 1976 StingRay that has been sitting for the past 10 years. We are trying to get it on the road and have run across a rear brake problem. The rear brakes seem to have locked up. The calipers seem to be stuck. The car has stainless calipers all around. Is there a remedy for sticking brake calipers besides replacing them? Any suggestions? Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
It could be a master cylinder problem rather than the calipers. Open a bleed screw on one of the calipers and see if fluid comes out and they release. If not, it's probably the calipers.
After ten years, I would rebuild/replace everything in the system. Don't drive it with questionable brakes.
After ten years, I would rebuild/replace everything in the system. Don't drive it with questionable brakes.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
This is the most likely problem. Spray PB Blaster into the access holes and down the rotor vents to saturate the E-brake shoes. It may take a few days of regular spraying but the rear rotors should start turning if you stick a large screwdriver into one of the rotor vents and move it back and forth. The 72 that we bought had been sitting for the same amount of time and the e-brake shoes had rusted onto the rotors. PB and some brute force will get things rolling again.
Rick B.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Should that be the problem, and you DO get the wheels to turn, you can still plan on replacing the lines, at the very least, and most likely the entire system. Don't be a fool like some us (me), and try to cheap skate it, as it will just cost you much more in the long one. Calipers in groups of four cost a lot less than buying four individual calipers at four different times, plus, bleeding those suckers every single time one of them siezes up on you, or hemorages break fluid all over your rotors.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 62
From: Houston Tx
Great idea. We did get the wheels to turn after changing the pads and I agree we may as well change the lines etc. We decided to go ahead and change bearings, etc so that'll be next weekends work. What weight of rear differential fluid is recommended for the 76 year model?
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