Seized brake caliper

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Bonnewagon

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Sep 18, 2009
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I was discussing this with pontiacgp and I figured I would share with everyone. "My daughter has a '12 Jeep Liberty. She drove into my driveway and I could smell her brakes from the back yard. She said it felt like she was dragging an anchor. When I looked at the left front wheel smoke was coming off the brake. By the time I emptied my driveway of cars and had hers up in the air it had cooled off and I was able to spin the wheel by hand. I had assumed a frozen caliper so that was odd. When I took the idiotic MOPAR brake assembly apart all looked well. I was able to press the caliper piston back in with a big "C" clamp. I told her to press the brake pedal and the piston went right out. I pushed it in and out with no trouble. So no frozen caliper. Then after questioning her I found out she had been in stop-and-go traffic for two hours and the brake froze just as she got close to home. Here's the kicker- The brakes were replaced about two months ago. New rotors too. So brand new brakes got hot and froze up just from traffic. " Asking my shop buddy he said it is pretty common. He also recommended replacing everything-caliper,rotor,hose,pads. Seems a bit extreme but I know a shop wants no come-backs.
 

pagrunt

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Sep 14, 2014
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Something fishy withe ABS module to cause the the pressure to stay "heavy" on the caliper from the constant on/off pressure on the system? ABS sensor haveing a mental melt down on that wheel? Hard to judge a mechanical issue having the computer assist on the brakes.
 
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pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
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Something fishy withe ABS module to cause the the pressure to stay "heavy" on the caliper from the constant on/off pressure on the system? ABS sensor haveing a mental melt down on that wheel? Hard to judge a mechanical issue having the computer assist on the brakes.

I read a few posts about the Liberty brakes seizing up and they all point to the caliper that is the problem. No one brought up the ABS module but that is something to look at cause one posted that they changed the caliper and the new on seized up as well after not too many miles.
 

81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
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Fiance had a stratus a few years ago that had a similar issue. Driving about 3hrs away from home and it started sqwuealing really bad and was dragging. Turns out the rear right caliper locked up. Pep boys or something was down the street so they limped it there and they tried to sell her a new axle. Luckily she isn't a moron and saw through that so they changed the rotor and pads.

Fast forward 2 months later is started sqwealing really bad again. It was near me this time so I took the caliper off and pushed the piston in and blew the plastic ceramic piston apart. Also heard a friend of mine had a similar issue on their chrysler cloud car. Brake hose was randomly acting as a check valve and holding the pressure in causing it to drag and get hot. Changed the caliper, hose, and pads and it was fine from then on until she sold it.

Dodges for some reason do that with the caliper hose from what I understand.
 
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TURNA

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Jul 24, 2009
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Jeep Liberty/Compass = POOP!!!!!!!
 

Streetbu

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May 22, 2011
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Just had the same exact thing happen on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I did front pads and rotors on it two months ago. Friend calls last week and says my left front brake is smoking. Rotor was blued. New caliper no more issues. Watch out for the phenolic pistons, they do that often especially in rust belt states.
 
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Bitterman

Greasemonkey
Jan 17, 2017
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My daily driver had a sticky caliper... or so I thought. Daily is an 06 saturn vue. Replaced caliper, pads and resurfaced rotor and same issue. My rubber brake hose had a metal bracket that started to rust in between the metal and rubber hose. The rust caused the rubber hose to pinch, not letting the brake caliper release fully.

I noticed that if I started the car, applied the brakes to shift into reverse and let off the brake, i could hear the brake grabbing as i started to move. Only after replacing the rubber line did my issue go away.

Hope this helps.
 

pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
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I just ordered the Idle Air Control Valve today for my Grand Cherokee, I hope that is all I am going to need for a while......

Hands-Fingers-Crossed.jpg
 
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