So here's what happened: I was changing my brakes/rotors last night. The one side went fine, but the passenger side gave me a problem. I compressed the cylinder plate all the way in, but when I put the new pads on they wouldn't go over the rotor. Turns out one of the pins (the ones in the caliper protected by rubber boots) wasnt allowing the caliper to slide. I took it apart and and it was all rusted...I sanded down the pin pretty good to remove some of the rust as well as the inside of the caliper where the pin goes. Greased it up and put it back together. Now it slides, but just not as well as the driver side one does. I was then able to get the pads to fit over the rotor and tested it out this morning and the brakes seem to be fine.

The rotors are rusted pretty bad, but I've spent $600+ to get my car to pass inspection and I am trying to avoid buying parts that I don't need. Do you think I should replace the entire caliper or just the pins or just the one part of the caliper that slides? Or should it be ok how it is for the time being? If it locks up again, will that damage my rotors and cause the brakes to wear unevenly?

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it very much!!

 

personally, if this was my fun little project, I would see about finding a used caliper at one of the local yards, making sure the rubber boot is not torn on it, and throw that on there. Not sure what year you have, but i know the early to mid 90s honda civics are everywhere in my area.

OR

just drive it. until it actually locks up, you shouldn't have any problems.

if it locks up again, it shouldn't damage the rotors, realistically, it is going to burn through the brake pad first, then will start damaging the rotors, and by then, you will be seeing the rotors get red hot, and should hear a really nasty grinding noise. you will know if it locks up again.


hope that helps.

this forum seems to be packed full of newbs, but no one that is actually active on here.