Twitch de la Brat Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 OK, well last night my drivers side front brake semi locked up on me and will not let go. I had to drive through a puddle just to get the thing to cool off and quit smoking. This is my 1985 Brat with 255k, 4 speed D/R, original Engine, tranny, everything but the alt (that's a 100a gm ) is basically stock. I haven't done anything with it so far and just wanted to get some suggestions from the brain trust. :-p I haven't messed with the brakes on this car before and have almost no idea where to start from. I was considering just taking a prybar to the calipers and maybe a sledgehammer as well. JK Any help? Cuz I work at 4 and I need this thing to work before then. I'm a pizza delivery driver. :-\ So uh HELP! Thanks in advance Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
()__1337_CRAYOLA__()> Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 ive had my brat do that turns out the caliper went bad and when you set the e-brake it doesnt retract.... id rebuild them and lube em up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsboy Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Yeah... sounds like the classic stuck brake caliper. I dont wanna be the one to tell you this... but you may not be delivering pizzas with your brat tonight. :-\ If youve never done work on your front brakes before... you probably are due for pads and rotors anyway. Hit your local NAPA (or parts store of choice) for calipers, pads and rotors. Depending on the rust that is present once you remove the wheel (and if the last person to service the brakes used antiseize) youre probably looking at anywhere from 2 - 3 hours to a full Saturday worth of rebuilding. Its a good idea to do L&R sides at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivantruckman Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 does that have a hill holder ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 does that have a hill holder ? Yes, but it is not currently functional. And doesn't that connect to the rear brakes anyway? Oh, and lots of thanks to backwoodsboy and 1337 crayon for the diagnosis. My boss is not going to be happy. Crap. There goes my job. Especially if this takes more than a day or two to fix. Thanks for the time estimations backwoodsboy. Off topic, but what are you using for gaskets to put together your "125 hp" EA81? I'll be doing the same with my brat engine after I can get a reliable DD. Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsboy Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) Im thinking either OE or FelPro for the EA81 gaskets. As far as the "day or 2 to fix" ... I dont know if it will take THAT long. If you have to get going temporarily, take it apart and fix just the one side. Your biggest fight will probably be getting the caliper to swing off the brake rotor since its seized. EDIT : NAPA part # SDC 2426719 LIST PRICE = 101.00 (eeesh!):-\ Edited April 11, 2009 by backwoodsboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 Im thinking either OE or FelPro for the EA81 gaskets. Your biggest fight will probably be getting the caliper to swing off the brake rotor since its seized. EDIT : NAPA part # SDC 2426719 LIST PRICE = 101.00 (eeesh!):-\ Ok on the gaskets. And as for the caliper, that's exactly why I have a BFH and a wood block And holy crap! $101.00?!? Eeeesh! is right! I guess I'll definitely have to check into csk/O'reileys. Thanks for the help though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Had that same problem on my '86, was the PS wanting to hang. Ordered loaded calipers thru rockauto for under $50.00 each, they're on closeout sale right now. 0790523 = L 0790524 = R 1494959796054 5% discount code Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aba4430 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?parttype=1704&a=RSSW1267769&carcode=1267769 Cannot go wrong with the RA parts mentioned above. See link. I just replaced my front set ups with the loaded rebuilt calipers. For <$50 each, was an excellent deal. Also see the following link for other parts (87 Brat, but should be the same): http://www.rockauto.com/RSS/vehiclefeeds.php?carcode=1267769&m=wc&l=en&html=true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted April 12, 2009 Author Share Posted April 12, 2009 Well, the caliper let loose with a little massaging (from a BFH) and works fine now. I guess it just got stuck. A full brake rebuild is in the plans after I get another DD. I'm still driving it, but there is nominal brake rub now. Not enough to affect performance cuz I can still push it by hand, but enough to get a scent of burning brakes after a long drive. I've been working on lubing up the calipers so that they can last until my new DD arrives. Any suggestions? I need to be able to pull this thing apart and put it back together again within a day, cuz a guy at work just got fired and his gf may be quitting soon. Not to mention another driver is going out for 2 weeks to have a plate pulled out of his thigh :-\ So, uh, yeah. I need to be able to do anything to my car in a very short time frame. Thanks again, Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbianchi Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 You could try this, swing the caliper away from the rotor and push the piston back in as far as possible then swing caliper down and hit the brakes. Repeat this action several times to loosen the pistons travel, my legacy's pass side brake stuck last fall and I tried that procedure, so far so good:rolleyes:. No cash required...............G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoodsboy Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Keep in mind that the pistons on the early calipers needed to be compressed AND turned at the same time. In other words... if you put a C-clamp on the pistons and crank em down you WILL be buying calipers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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