Brake help needed (Toyota not Fiat)

[jimincalif]

Sorry for the non-Fiat question but I'm stuck. My son is visiting this weekend and he took the opportunity to use my garage and change his front rotors and back pads on his 2003 Toyota Matrix. Everything seemed to go fine swapping parts, except that now the brakes are dragging badly, front is worse than the back, the wheels can be turned with lots of effort but you hear the pads dragging badly and they start to cook when driven a short distance. After doing all 4 corners he bled the whole system, nothing abnormal while doing this. Brake lube was applied to appropriate areas where the pads are clipped and to the slider pins, it really seems like the system won't release the hydraulic pressure. No problems were apparent beforehand, he drove the car down from Santa Barbara on Friday night with no brake issues.

Appreciate any ideas, I'm stumped.

[kilrwail]

Sounds like the calipers are sticking and may need a rebuild. The added thickness of new rotors and pads has brought the problem to the surface because now the pistons have to retract farther and can't, perhaps because their lubrication and/or the sealing rings have dried out.

[4uall]

Here is a good video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXcClOf ... LsULMYQNuA

[majicwrench]

Am a bit confused, you changed the front rotors and the rear pads?? Usually you would change pads and rotors on same end?
Are all 4 wheels dragging?? If so, that point to a hydraulic issue, but not sure how you would cause that. Are you sure you put brake fluid in it?? Not sure why you bled brakes to begin with unless you opened system.
First you need to know what is causing it, mechanical or hydraulic. With a wheel off, I assume you can't hardly turn rotor, open bleeder see if it lets out pressure and improves situation. If it does, you have hydraulic issues. If brakes still draggin just mechanical. I doubt if calipers themselves are bad. I have seen replacement pads that were too big and folks force them into their support and they cannot retract. Does rear have park brake feature built into caliper?? If so, you have to turn the piston to retract it. Gotta check some things.
Keith

[BEEK]

also check on the front brake hoses, they too can cause a "sticking caliper" issue. if you are sure the fronts are dragging, first try and open the bleeders. pay attention and see if the fluid squirts out like its under pressure, or if it just dribbles. like was already mentioned, if the fluid does not squirt out under pressure, i would look at the calipers,the pistons are not retracting due to some reason, being seals or corrosion etc. at this point its better to replace the calipers with rebuilt units, unless you wish to overhaul them yourself

[fiat218]

Ok I own a FIAT not a Toyota ( wrong site pal ) when the site allows other makes of car on this , soon the miata and Volkswagen 's owners will take over the site , STOP THE MAD NeSs
Mine too was dragging after I installed a rotor,( used)
The rotors are the same thickness correct? Others then being resurface, but as a rule they are right

Anyways it made me mad and so I just ordered 4 calipers, I don't deal with rebuilt crap ( not brakes