cmyates007

I have had some brake problems recently on my 2003 Accord and notice my rear brake was sticking on the passenger side. I was replacing pads and rotors and cleaning the caliper in the process. On the passenger side the piston was extremely difficult to turn whereas the driver side piston was very easy to turn.

Could this mean the caliper is bad and that is the reason for the sticky brakes? If so, caliper recommendations or just pick one up at the Honda dealership or local auto parts store?

I really don't have another car to drive so will it destroy the new pads and rotors if the caliper is sticking a little when I drive it to work tomorrow?

Thanks!

MSchu

Passenger side is where the parking brake is located... you need to use a pretty substantial screw driver to get good leverage to get it back in with ease. Once back in place it shouldn't destroy a pad prematurely.(for a caliper on a parking brake corner)

cmyates007

Thanks, that makes me feel better. I will keep cranking on it and make sure it is all the way in. I will keep an eye on it over the next few days to see if it is overheating/sticking like it was before cleaning everything up.

MSchu

yeah, it can be very tough to get back in... make sure you dont have your parking brake on when trying to screw in

I have a giant snap on screw drive( about 24" long) and it make things really easy

jimlaw3

both rear caliper have a parking brake.there are two parking brake cables one running to each rear wheel.if you lift the car do all wheels spin freely?

cmyates007

I did notice when getting back to the brakes that both rears did have the parking brake. The passenger side was not spinning freely. I took everything back apart, cleaned again, lubed the capiler, pins etc and then the piston did seem to rotate more freely this time.

After getting everything back together and a test drive, the right rear wheel did seem to spin more freely. I am hoping that the cleaning solved the sticking but I am going to keep a close eye on it for the next few hundred miles.

Thanks!

BLKFLSH

If the piston is hard to turn, that would mean the emergency brake is sticking, not the regular brakes. The regular brakes just push the piston out, the turning part is part of the emergency brake. Emergency brake on just one side? That would be VERY dangerous. Can you say spin-out?