jmlmr2

I got home last night & could smell brakes - so I did the "touch test", going around to each wheel to see if any of them were hot (touching the wheel, NOT the brakes!). Sure enough, my left rear brake is sticking. My first thought was that the sliding pins could be sticking, but they were totally fine. Next I tried to retract the piston using a 3/8" driver & that thing would not budge - I actually started to dent the piston I was twisting it so hard...

So, I would guess this means the caliper is shot. Problem is that with all the parking brake hardware attached, I'm not sure what is involved when trying to replace that caliper (also - could it be some component in the parking brake that is broken and keeping the piston from retracting?) I am thinking I'll just order a remanufactured caliper, since my experience with caliper rebuild kits is not good - usually because if the piston is sticking it needs the bore cleaned up too - not just new seals.

Looking for advice on a) what else I should check before determining that the caliper assembly is truly at fault and, b) how difficult is is to replace the caliper since it has all that parking brake crap attached to it?

Thanks.

slalom44

Before you "bite the bullet" and get a remanufactured caliper, you may want to try opening up the bleeder valve, then compress the piston. In the unlikely event that it is related to your ABS unit, you will be able to rule this out.