Ok guys, 98 dodge ram 1500 2wd front drivers side brake will grab and stick . Started yesterday and seems to do it off and on. Seems like when you let off the brakes it wont loosen. The brake pads are good but the brake pedal is hard to depress. Its off/on. Its like trying to drive with your foot slightly on the brake. I dont want to have a fire under there either. So any help?

 

you might have frozen callipers - which means the sliding pins are rusted . the cure is to take the calliper off and clean up the pins with a steel brush then put some anti seize paste on them. also make sure that the piston isnt frozen a little lube on their might help

 

It is a daily driver and I am not sure how you go about cleaning them. Do i need to bleed the system before taking the off? Do you think it could be the master cylinder. I dont think it should be since they work and theres no lack of pressure?

 

well youll have to make the time- first thing is to jack up the front end (both tires) and spin them. if they dont spin equally then that most likely will tell you the problem side.

it should take no longer then an hour for each side its not very complicated. usually 2 bolts hold a caliper on just remove those and thecaliper should come off now mind you if its really frozen then you might have to carefully pry it off. use channel locks to compress the piston and leave one of the pads in there so you wont damage the rubber ring around the piston.

now where the two bolts where that you removed. . . inside should be metal pins approx 1/2 " in diameter thats what you need to clean up it will most likely have rust on them and be really dry. get that rust off back to metal put some anti seize paste on and should do the trick. also lube the bolts andtighten away. if this is your problem make sure to do both sides and not just the one. because then the fixed side will be better then the other.

 

Would they rust randomly like that? Is there a way to avoid it? And if that doesnt fix it what then?

 

yes all cars usually get that way eventually, trucks see more dirt so its worse . every time the brakes are done they should have anti-seize paste put on but most service places dont take the 5 extra minutes to do it then. try that first.. you do not need to bleed the brakesas long as you dontloosen thebrake line and let air in the system. also when you compress thepiston back, you might have to take the cap off the brake fluid reservoir. to let the fluid in.

 

Just did mine last night. Had to replace the pads took about two hrs. Its a good idea while you there to pull the pads and lube the spring clips this will help keep them from squeling and lube the pins and bolts. On mine the pins have a boot on them but you still need to check the pin. If there is a hole in the boot moisture will get in. Just make sure that you don't get any lube on the rotors or pads. Clean them good if you do. Servicing the pucks in the caliper is'nt to bad a job either if you have to do that.