Front brakes locking up on one side, almost wrecked..

[elwood2]

About 6 months ago i did a complete tune-up and brake job on my truck. The pads still had a bit of life left in them and the rotors were fine so i didn't have them cut or replaced. I put new pads all around.

I had problems with the left front drivers side locking up in the past so i bought a new caliper for that side and replaced it. It seemed to be working decently up until maybe a month ago then it started pulling slightly. I can let the steering wheel go and apply the brakes pretty hard and it doesnt pull all that much to the left.

If i brake hard, the drivers front will lock up. Yesterday coming home from work i came about two feet from rear-ending someone else. Had it been raining, i'd probably be looking for a new truck right now. I don't know if it makes a difference but i did not slam on the brakes. I was breaking already and the truck slowed down significantly in front of me and i just pushed them down further.

A few years ago, the previous owner had to change the passenger side caliper because it kept getting stuck.

What would be some things to check? Should i try and put a new caliper on the drivers side? The passenger side? Brake lines? Master Cylinder?

[92extcab]

ok well if im not mistaken then if you can still lock up the brakes that means you still have pressure and no air in the lines witch means the lines dont have cracks or slips in them with means there fine..... and if you brake and they dont release the pressure in the middle of you braking then your master cylinder is good.....

as far as the caliper im not really sure.......

when my truck kept locking up i just changed the pads..... it stoped doing it and then my master cylinder went out and i changed that and everything is ok now....

in your case i really dont think its the master cylinder or the lines tho..... it could be the caliper since you did just change the pads.....

thats my knowlege on it hope it helps hopefuly the other guys will chime in and tell you what you need to change

[bisjoe]

If the rubber line to the caliper is old, they can squeeze together, preventing the fluid/pressure from returning.

[01_ranger_4x4]

If the rubber line to the caliper is old, they can squeeze together, preventing the fluid/pressure from returning.

X2 ive seen it a few times

[Sprag-O]

I had crap in my line one time... Had a 3500lb boat and trailer behind me, had to get on the brakes hard... front right caliper locked up.

I replaced the caliper thinking it was hanging up, but still, after a little while of driving, same thing happen... did a full fluid exchange, there was rust and all sorts of crap in the fluid.

[ccernst]

a few months ago, one of my calipers was grabbing real hard on one side. it never locked up, but did affect my steering when braking. I inspected my pads looking for a hard spot. In doing so, I exercised my caliper movement all the way...I put the same pads back on and have not had a problem since. I brought up the issue here and some were saying that one or both of my cylinders needed to be greased... The only thing I can think of happening was one cylinder in the caliper did not put as much force as the other creating a lever action on the brake pad...adding too much pressure against the rotor. Exercise that caliper maybe?

[punga]

About 6 months ago i did a complete tune-up and brake job on my truck. The pads still had a bit of life left in them and the rotors were fine so i didn't have them cut or replaced. I put new pads all around.

I had problems with the left front drivers side locking up in the past so i bought a new caliper for that side and replaced it. It seemed to be working decently up until maybe a month ago then it started pulling slightly. I can let the steering wheel go and apply the brakes pretty hard and it doesnt pull all that much to the left.

If i brake hard, the drivers front will lock up. Yesterday coming home from work i came about two feet from rear-ending someone else. Had it been raining, i'd probably be looking for a new truck right now. I don't know if it makes a difference but i did not slam on the brakes. I was breaking already and the truck slowed down significantly in front of me and i just pushed them down further.

A few years ago, the previous owner had to change the passenger side caliper because it kept getting stuck.

What would be some things to check? Should i try and put a new caliper on the drivers side? The passenger side? Brake lines? Master Cylinder?

What year truck? Also your problem most likely is coming from the pass side caliper not slideing freely makeing the driver side do all the work. And the harder you push with out the pass side applying enough pressure on the rotor the driver side locks up. 97-down can have problems with the caliper supports wearing where the pads ride and cause the pads to hang up. I've had a few people replace calipers with out the supports and still have the same problem and bring them in to find the supports were worn pretty bad.

[elwood2]

I hate to bring up an old thread but i'm still having the same problems (drivers side locking up under really hard braking or medium braking in rain). Since this post i've replaced both front calipers, brake lines, pads, and new rotors.

When bleeding the lines i didn't notice any dirty fluid coming out so i doubt there is trash in the system. I think the next thing i should replace is the caliper mounts.

Any other ideas?

[ccernst]

caliper pins greased up nicely? have you flushed the lines completely?

[01_ranger_4x4]

caliper pins greased up nicely? Have you flushed the lines completely?

x2

[elwood2]

caliper pins greased up nicely? have you flushed the lines completely?

x2

The drivers side is greased up good but the passenger side isnt. I'm gonna buy some new pins and install them greased up. Any other suggestions?

[ctgriffi]

I'm having the same problem on my '94.

Elwood2: Please post again, if you made any progress on the problem...I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

[elwood2]

I'm having the same problem on my '94.

Elwood2: Please post again, if you made any progress on the problem...I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

Since then i changed the brake lines on both sides and both calipers. Most recently i put new pads and new rotors in the front.

It helped some but it did not totally alleviate the problem. Next thing i'm going to try is changing the caliper pins and make sure they're greased good and moving freely.

Lately i've really been considering buying something a little newer. I think i've spent around $5000 on this old truck in the last two years and i still have this major problem and a few minor problems that just make me want to have a fireworks show with 5 gallons of gasoline.

If you figure out what is wrong with yours, please let us know.

[tajVELOCITY]

Mine lock up too. I feel like it only happens sometimes and only when I just start driving. I'll hit the brakes (especially in the rain) and think "ah i can feel it. i bet i can lock em up" so I take precautions to test them out first. Also, sometimes I'll be sitting in traffic (I'm always sitting in traffic), completely stopped with my foot on the brake, and the brake pedal will move a little closer to the floor. I replaced the rotors and pads in October and it still happens.

[whaler]

I would go so far as to say, this is a common problem to chevy trucks. I have been trying to fix my issue for sometime now and mine goes like this:

had a mechanic work the brakes over because of a generally soft pedal, sinks almost to the floor. After a master cylinder change and no real fix, They got them to work reasonable , about half pedal, soft. Not long after that, the front calipers would lock up and not release. I could stomp on the pedal hard and quick and they would come loose but they would still lock up, per say, slowly nudging up in traffic at a light. I am pretty sure my calipers need replacing and have done so... today.

I installed 2 calipers and upon trying to drive the truck, found that both of the calipers are clamped tight to the rotor. grrrrr....I was going to pull the calipers off and grease the caliper pins but I bet that doesnt solve my issue.

Probably exercise the calipers off the rotor to make sure they are working right too. I'll post what makes my system work right again when I figure it out.

[elwood2]

I would go so far as to say, this is a common problem to chevy trucks. I have been trying to fix my issue for sometime now and mine goes like this:

had a mechanic work the brakes over because of a generally soft pedal, sinks almost to the floor. After a master cylinder change and no real fix, They got them to work reasonable , about half pedal, soft. Not long after that, the front calipers would lock up and not release. I could stomp on the pedal hard and quick and they would come loose but they would still lock up, per say, slowly nudging up in traffic at a light. I am pretty sure my calipers need replacing and have done so... today.

I installed 2 calipers and upon trying to drive the truck, found that both of the calipers are clamped tight to the rotor. grrrrr....I was going to pull the calipers off and grease the caliper pins but I bet that doesnt solve my issue.

Probably exercise the calipers off the rotor to make sure they are working right too. I'll post what makes my system work right again when I figure it out.

I bought a new vehicle December of last year. I never completely fixed the problem, it was time to stop dumping money into that vehicle. Good luck with yours.