Brake issue

[Damazzaro]

2006 Rubicon 55k miles auto trans

Hopefully you guys can give me some good insight about what my solution should be. The problem is this: I purchased an 06 Rubicon with 52k miles on it. PO says everything works, yada yada. I did my own PPI and everything was indeed working. Come a few weeks of ownership I had a caliper sieze up on me. I made sure the slide pins we're okay and the issue went away. I purchased black magic bands and centric rotors and now the issue has returned. It's happened on all calipers at some point over the few months the new pads and rotors have been installed. I'm going to replace the calipers and immediate brake hoses, but would rather not replace the pads and rotors because they weren't cheap. Could the issue be with the lines or would you just pinpoint it to the hoses and/or calipers? It's an an easy fix, just might be more expensive than I want it to be. Any thoughts? Or something I should test first or any questions?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Bad master cylinder?

 

[Mr. Bills]

Try flushing the old brake fluid completely before you start replacing parts.

 

[Damazzaro]

Bad master cylinder?

How would I check or test to see if the master cylinder could be bad?

Try flushing the old brake fluid completely before you start replacing parts.

When I replaced the rotors and pads a few months ago I did a complete flush

 

[Alex01]

 

[rouxbicon]

How would I check or test to see if the master cylinder could be bad?



When I replaced the rotors and pads a few months ago I did a complete flush

Grooves or divots in the steering knuckles where the pads ride?

 

[Damazzaro]

Thanks everyone. I'll look at everything over the next few days and update you if I have any questions or concerns!

 

[Chris]

Try flushing the old brake fluid completely before you start replacing parts.

X2, this is where I would start.

 

[Damazzaro]

Bad master cylinder?

Might be a bad Question. Can the master cylinder still be bad if my pedal is nice and firm? Is there a point where a master cylinder creates too much force and could cause calipers to freeze? The videos I've watched say to look for a squishy pedal, but my pedal feels firm.

Also is a sticking caliper usually due to a leak somewhere in the system? Because the hydraulic system doesn't have enough vacuum pressure to return the caliper to the ready state?

 

[Damazzaro]

Might be a bad Question. Can the master cylinder still be bad if my pedal is nice and firm? Is there a point where a master cylinder creates too much force and could cause calipers to freeze? The videos I've watched say to look for a squishy pedal, but my pedal feels firm.

Also is a sticking caliper usually due to a leak somewhere in the system? Because the hydraulic system doesn't have enough vacuum pressure to return the caliper to the ready state?

@Jerry Bransford Apologize for the direct tag. Just wanted to see if I could get your advice on my reply to your bad master cylinder comment. ^^^
If I'm unable to pinpoint a leak in the system does or the master cylinder isn't bad, what would that point to? It's odd that this has happened on each caliper (or at least 3 of them, cant fully remember if the first time was the F.P or F.D.) I did paint my calipers at one point. If the piston was pushed down all the way would that have pushed crud into the caliper bore and is causing them to seize?

 

[Flivver250]

The pistons in brake calipers can seize up due to rust. Installing new pads can push the pistons back to a corroded portion of the cylinder. As brakes are useful to have, it is not worth cutting corners on a 12 year old rig. You can hone the calipers and install new seals and pistons or you can replace the calipers with new ones. Hoses and fluid are maintenance items anyway, money spent on peace of mind will pay dividends. Typically good pressure is indicative of no leaks and a good master. I spare no expense on brakes. I want them to be there when I need them. In my brake lexicon, a question means replace.