Well, as some of you may have seen, my rear brakes are dragging like crazy. I went through a set of pads in under 3 months, only like 4k miles. However, my dad doesn't believe me that BOTH calipers could seize at roughly the same time. He wants me to check other possiblities...So...I went to my haynes manual. The possibilities it lists are:

1. Incorrect adjustment of brake light switch: I don't really know what this is, but it sounds like it would be causing all 4 brakes to drag instead of just the two rear brakes

2. Master cylinder piston not returning correctly: I think that brake lines on my Integra are set up diagonally, so RR and FL/RL and FR are split off the same brake lines. If this was the case, I don't think it would be the two rear ones dragging, instead it would be a front and a rear.

3. Restricted brake lines or hoses: Checked, haven't found any around the brake area. Where else can I look? I doubt this is the problem, though, again because of the way my brake lines are set up.

4. Incorrect Parking brake adjustment: Parking brake moves cleanly, no rust or seizing of the lines or the brake itself.

So basically, I'm going to show this thread to my dad. Can any of you guys support me (or shoot me down) on any of these ideas? Both him and I want to be sure it's not something cheaper before I go out and spend $150 on new calipers. Thanks a ton.

 

1) NO. The brake light switch simply turns on your brake lights. It doesn't actually work the brakes...

2) Yes, they are set up diagonally. So that should be correct.

3) A brake hose has layers. So an inside layer can come loose, and block the flow, while the hose 'looks' OK. Not likely for both sides at the same time...

4) Good idea. Make sure you check this. Are you just saying that the handbrake lever operates smoothly? Or have you actually taken off the wheels to watch the cable & lever down at the caliper?

Both rear calipers see the same kind of environment, as far as dirt & corrosion.

Make sure the pads aren't wedged real tight in the caliper brackets - they have to release. I've gotten some that were so tight I had to file the paint off the top & bottom ends of the steel backing plates.

Make sure the caliper slide pins move nice & smooth. Were your pads all worn down the same or did the outboard & inboard wear different?

Make sure the rattle springs aren't in wrong.

 

I actually got down and checked the cable and lever sliding, it's fine.

The pads seem to be worn down at the same time. It's hard to tell the inboard pad's thickness, but the outer pad is worn down to almost nothing, less than a millimeter of usable pad. I'm pretty sure the inboard pad is worn the same.

How tight is too tight for the pads? Should they just slide in and out of the caliper brackets or should you have to give it a solid push?

And what are the rattle springs? This sounds very familiar but I can't recall what they are.

Thanks for all your help!

 

bump

 

pleeeeease.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScootinIntegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I actually got down and checked the cable and lever sliding, it's fine.</TD></TR></TABLE>Then maybe your cable is too tight? When you release your handbrake, the lever down at the caliper should be pretty much out against it's stop. Plus, the handbrake return spring has to be strong enough to pull the cable and twist itself all the way to the stop.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScootinIntegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How tight is too tight for the pads? Should they just slide in and out of the caliper brackets or should you have to give it a solid push?</TD></TR></TABLE>They should slide in nicely. That way when the caliper releases the pads, the pads aren't stuck dragging against the rotor. The top & bottom ends of the pad backing plate ride against a smooth shim (or whatever it's called) in the caliper bracket. Clean that shim so the surface is smooth.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScootinIntegra &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And what are the rattle springs? This sounds very familiar but I can't recall what they are.</TD></TR></TABLE>The rattle springs fit into the caliper, they push against the back edge of the backing plate so the pads don't work outwards away from the hub.

 

i had a problem with my rear drivers side dragging and all i ad to do was grease the rails in the caliper problem solved

Now i make sure i do this everytime