'98 V70 Frozen front brake caliper

Post by **E Showell** » 23 Jan 2017, 19:31

Driving to work today and the front end started shaking. Wasn't engine related. I figured stuck front caliper, which proved to be the case.

Here's what I'm thinking. Existing calipers are most likely rebuilt from the local NAPA. I installed them in August of 2015. Can't recall exact mileage, but figure they've gone about 30,000 miles. I do live in a fairly damp and hilly area. Nonetheless, I'm thinking I should get more than 30K miles out of a set of rebuilt front calipers.

Anybody have a different opinion?

I'll probably source replacements from FCP -- most likely Cardone's -- but I'm thinking of opting for the Volvo OE caliper slide pins. They are expensive, but might prolong the life of the calipers a bit.

My mechanic put an infrared thermometer on it this morning -- 369 degrees F for the passenger side, 59 degrees for the driver side. He said I should replace the front brake lines as well (on both sides) as well as the driver side caliper. He figures if the passenger side went, the driver side isn't far behind.

Should I do the pads as well?

Any need to replace the brake fluid if it got that hot, or it that temperature to be expected from vigorous braking in a healthy caliper?

I'm leaving the rear's alone.

skloon · Post by **skloon** » 23 Jan 2017, 20:21

Did the pistons seize or the pins ? If the pins maybe a different grease is needed

Post by **E Showell** » 23 Jan 2017, 20:40

Assuming pistons, not pins. Good quality synthetic grease used on pins.

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Jan 2017, 21:45

The Cardone item at FCP https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... emi-loaded is this one https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/ ... num=191732.
I recently bought these instead, for the front of my 95 https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/ ... um=19p1732.

Post by **cn90** » 23 Jan 2017, 22:06

I installed a NAPA Right Front caliper in 2014, 3 years later still good.

NAPA Brake Calipers are warranted for life IIRC.
Check your receipt or cell phone number.
I think NAPA keeps records of ownership by your cell phone # as people don't generally keep the receipts.

Post by **Clemens** » 24 Jan 2017, 00:05

Are you aure it is a front caliper? The rears are way more prone to get stuck. I also had a vibration that i believed came from the front end and after months of troubleshooting and new brakes up front it finally was the left rear caliper.
Edit: I also had an ABS mudule failure at that time, made evrything harder to track down.

Post by **E Showell** » 24 Jan 2017, 03:08

Definitely the front passenger side. 310 degree F temperature difference between front rotors as well as smoke coming from front passenger side wheel was all the diagnostics I needed.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Jan 2017, 04:35

30k miles is pretty short, push lots of brake fluid through when you do/get the job done. If you forget a good dose of road salt in the caliper, you can freeze them up pretty quick.

They usually recommend new hoses so that they can cut them off instead of dealing with the fittings.

I'm still original on my 1999s.

I know it's crappy out, but it might be worth pulling it off yourself to see if it's piston ( new caliper needed) or caliper slide ( remove, wire brush, and grease)

If it got that hot, the piston seal is probably gone.

You are going to replace all The brake fluid near that wheel if you replace caliper anyway. No need to fool with rear.

Post by **cn90** » 24 Jan 2017, 08:35

E Showell wrote:Definitely the front passenger side. 310 degree F temperature difference between front rotors as well as smoke coming from front passenger side wheel was all the diagnostics I needed.

Ironically, my RF also seized around 150K, replaced with NAPA caliper a few years ago, so far so good.

Check with NAPA, I believe the caliper is warranted for life.

Cees Klumper · Post by **Cees Klumper** » 25 Jan 2017, 05:48

Are you sure it's the caliper and not the hoses? These swell up on the inside and can lock up the caliper, because fluid is forced i through high (vacuum assisted) pressure, but then can't flow back due to the restricted hose. Try replacing the hoses first, at least check the caliper after removing the hose. I had a front caliper seizeon me, but found it was just the hose.