GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Talon830 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 12:36 pm I have a 2005 Vibe with ABS. The front passenger caliper has been locking up and not releasing. I have been searching the internet and this seems to be a problem for several others and it is always the front passenger caliper. I have replaced the front calipers (twice), new pads, new rotors, new brake hose, tomorrow I will be replacing the master cylinder. When the caliper locks up, if I crack open the brake line to relieve the pressure anywhere between the master cylinder and the passenger caliper the caliper releases. I have been going down the same path as many other have said they have with this issue to no avail. Has anyone else experienced this issue and able to correct it?

Bookworm wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2019 8:28 pm If you can relieve the pressure between the MBC and the brake itself, and the brake releases, then tMhat seems to point to the MBC itself. Like a valve has gone one-way.

I've never really researched the ABS systems other than to know that I don't like what mine does, but the pulse-release function on yours sounds like it's gone to pulse-norelease.

zbyers wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 2:31 am Welcome to GV. Depending on your location (we love that info, btw), these calipers are a kinda poor design and always freeze up. My '03 GT has been OK for almost a year now, but I think i was replacing them every 8 months or so. They build up a lot of corrosion here in PA, so I'm blaming that.

zbyers wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 5:54 am How many miles does the car have on it? Many times the rubber boot over the slide pins of the caliper gets unseated during removal/install, and then allows dirt and such to get into it. That's typically what causes these calipers to seize up. Rebuilt/remanned calipers from box stores always end up having some sort of issue. The next most common, is the typical rubber hose collapsing on itself. Replacement of that hose generally solves it. Have you tried replacing all of the brake fluid via bleeding all 4 corners? Outside of those, there really isn't much to the brake system. Unless moisture somehow got into the lines and corroded the ABS module, master cylinder, etc. I really don't think that would be the cause. Many are well over 300k miles without having to mess with either of those.

zbyers wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:43 am Keep us posted! Let's hope the MC resolved your issue.

How do the brakes feel overall? Spongey? Stop pretty darn good? Does it pull one way or the other when braking?

vibrologist wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 12:06 pm Chiming in here even though I have not taken a Vibe front brake apart. However I did so on a Mazda Protege. In the Protege the lower slide pin is placed inside a rubber sleeve that goes all the way through the hole in the caliper. The upper slide pin has individual rubber boots on either side of the hole. Here is what happened at the lower slide: there was rust on the caliper that pushed against the rubber and that rubber pushed against the slide pin which kept the caliper from releasing. The solution was not only to grease the slide pin but to remove the rubber sleeve and remove the rust from the hole. I did this with sand paper. If I have to do it again I will use a drill of the appropriate size.

It is not enough to clean and grease. Make sure you can slide the caliper EASILY with your hands from stop to stop. If it doesn't have a good look at the slide pin bore.
While you are at it: there may be tiny stainless steel shims at the pads. There could be rust under them and keep the pads from returning even though the piston retracts just fine. I used a file to remove the rust at these places.

And here is an experience with a Hyundai Sonata brake: it too did not release. The reason was that the pads were jammed so tight in the carrier (bracket) that they could not move. I had to chip away some material from the carrier (or from the appropriate place on the pad's base) to give them just a tiny little bit of play.
pad carrier.jpg

I have discovered the issue with the caliper seizing up have nothing to do with the caliper itself. I can always get the caliper to release by cracking open the brake line anywhere.

vibrologist wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:57 pm

I have discovered the issue with the caliper seizing up have nothing to do with the caliper itself. I can always get the caliper to release by cracking open the brake line anywhere.

You make a good point. But I am not 100% convinced by that. Diagnostics can come up a false positive or a false negative. The caliper drags, heats up the fluid and the heat expansion seizes the caliper. You stop, open the line somewhere and it releases. Well, since you stopped the temp was going down a few minutes already. I am not saying you are wrong. I am saying there is a tiny chance of this happening.

vibrologist wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2019 7:57 pm

I have discovered the issue with the caliper seizing up have nothing to do with the caliper itself. I can always get the caliper to release by cracking open the brake line anywhere.

You make a good point. But I am not 100% convinced by that. Diagnostics can come up a false positive or a false negative. The caliper drags, heats up the fluid and the heat expansion seizes the caliper. You stop, open the line somewhere and it releases. Well, since you stopped the temp was going down a few minutes already. I am not saying you are wrong. I am saying there is a tiny chance of this happening.