PEP BOYS: I need new front brakes!

[Safety Guy]

I took my car into Pep Boys since I didn't feel like messing with things in the cold. I figured they'd find the problem as to why only one diagonal of my brakes was working.

They just called and told me I need all new front brakes: calipers, rotors, pads, hoses, and apparently, hard lines.

Nothing about the master cylinder or any blockages.

My front brakes are about two years old. Or less.

I'll go in tomorrow and see if they can do just the hard brake lines, which is something I would have trouble with. Then I'll do the rest, checking everything to see if it is really needed.

My rotors looked fine last time I looked. I don't see it.

I think they just want to put in all new stuff while they're at it. Matching new parts on both sides and new rotors whether they're needed or not!

Now if one of the calipers is frozen, then okay, maybe replace both sides. Plus, maybe the pads, since I've been using one side hard for the past week or so. I'll look at them myself and see.

BS!

Karl

[packrat427]

Sometimes the inner lining of the rubber hose ruptures , and fluid gets in between the lining of the hose , fluid then pushes the hose shut creating a blockage going to the caliper .

It can also work in reverse and cause the pressure to remain on the caliper and not release it and make it feel like it is still applied .

It is not real common , but it does happen .

It is kind of like when the air gets between the layers in a tire and makes a bulge on the tire , but in the small hose it just pinches it off .

Not sure if that is what you may have Karl , of maybe they just want to make sure they have all the bases covered, to cover themselves .

[Safety Guy]

Thanks Doug.

I got it back from PBoys and took it to Firestone. I'm having them check it out and I'll probably get them or someone else to replace all the hard brake lines. I want this thing to be good to go from the ground up.

PBoys said the master cylinder & brake booster were fine.

Karl

[FB71]

sounds like the typical "front brake kit" method of CYA. Packrat is correct about the hoses, in both failure and likelyhood. See what FireBone has to say, but I would usually caution against chain stores. If you don't do it yourself, find a small local independant shop.

[skeeters_keeper]

^^agreed. chain repair shops are not good!! i work for one of them, and tell everyone i know not to take their car there (except when i'm working and can personally take care of their car). Our shop is one of the better ones, but the guys want to sell whatever they can, and don't treat the cars very well usually.

I only take my car to one place when i need an inspection or something like frame work, and its a family owned shop where i know the guys by name and trust them to do a decent job (for a good price too!). We have 4 vehicles that go there, if usually only for inspections, so they treat us well.

[LittleHoe]

Sometimes the inner lining of the rubber hose ruptures , and fluid gets in between the lining of the hose , fluid then pushes the hose shut creating a blockage going to the caliper .

It can also work in reverse and cause the pressure to remain on the caliper and not release it and make it feel like it is still applied .

It is not real common , but it does happen .

It is kind of like when the air gets between the layers in a tire and makes a bulge on the tire , but in the small hose it just pinches it off .

Not sure if that is what you may have Karl , of maybe they just want to make sure they have all the bases covered, to cover themselves .

I had a topaz that did this on the front right side, it would seem to pull a bit if you just pressed the brakes lightly but if you stomped on them it wouldn't release the caliper. You couldn't push the car. The engine would overpower the one brake but it would heat up like crazy. I changed the rubber brake line to the caliper and all was fixed...

[Safety Guy]

Well, Firestone said that I'd need new calipers and a new master cylinder! However, the front hoses were good and the hard lines looked good.

The rear brake cylinders were also leaking and needed to be replaced.

Keep in mind I did the swap about two years ago and I replaced both rear brake cylinders!

The right front caliper leaking makes sense, since I pulled that one off the Mutt when my newer caliper got messed up and I couldn't install it.

I think I'll bring her home and inspect her myself.

I can't afford $1500!!

Karl

[Pu241]

Safety Guy,

They are going to build a new franchise with what they will charge you to replace the front hard lines.
The Pass side is fairly easy.
The Driver side is a ..... PITA... (that's as nice as I can put it).
Might want to take a pair off your white parts car and have them reproduced.
You can also do that yourself, but remember the flare joints are double flared.
Might take a couple of break lines worth of practice but still cheap!
FYI - I replace my flex lines and calipers every 100,000 miles or so, then replace break fluid 2x a year, cheap insurance.
But still had a caliper lock up on me a few month ago!
Think GenevaDirt had a caliper failure a little while ago to!

[FB71]

Karl,

Caliper rebuild kits from Advance Auto are about $3 each, and takes about 15min per caliper.

[FB71]

oh, do you have a small air compressor? I can walk you thru a full brake rebuild and diagnostics...

[Pu241]

Caliper rebuild kits from Advance Auto are about $3 each, and takes about 15min per caliper.

Never thought of that!
Would be a lot nicer to have a set of rebuilt calipers ready to swap in!
Karl, once again, you could use the white festiva as a donor and rebuild the calipers then just swap them when your ready!
Heck of a lot cheaper than getting McParts rebuilt ones too!

I can walk you thru a full brake rebuild and diagnostics....

That might make a good write up with pics!
We are in need of such write ups on this forum!

[FB71]

can't spare the time for a photo-documented write-up at the moment, but I think I can do it on my Aspire swap over the Xmas holidays. Karl, post or PM with any questions, buddy, I'll be glad to help.

[Dave G]

Karl, wouldn't it be nice if you could get a car in your 2 car garage? :-)

[Pu241]

Karl, wouldn't it be nice if you could get a car in your 2 car garage? :-)

Ouch! :lol:

[Safety Guy]

IT'S A ONE AND A HALF CAR GARAGE!

Don't listen to Dave. He's just jealous of my two lawn ornaments. :lol:

Both places said my right caliper was leaking. It's the one I took off the Mutt, so it's older. I doubt the left caliper needs anything, and when I looked at the pads on both sides, they looked very thick and not overly worn. They're ceramic. Firestone said none of the lines were crimped or damaged, though there was a little rust up front. I can replace those next summer.

They also said all the hoses were good. I got to look under the car and saw nothing wrong with any of the lines.

I think I'll get a right caliper rebuild kit, two new rear brake cylinders and the new master cylinder with reservoir from AZ, which runs about $100 with no core. It will need "bench bled." The guy said everything comes with the part for that job.

I'll put the car up in my garage and take everything off to let the old fluid drain, then do the install.

Gotta clean out the garage first! I'll take my three seats and spare hatch to my parents' for storage. That should give me room.

This will be my first master cylinder replacement and caliper rebuild. I've done rear wheel cylinders before, and lost my fear of drum brakes. I did my Dad's Astro brakes all around before, too.

I surmise that I didn't drain enough old fluid when I did the Aspire swap about two years ago and the bad fluid allowed the seals to deteriorate.

How does all this sound?

Karl