Bounder 32 ft. Overheating Rear Brake Calipers.

If it is on a Ford F53 chassis...The problem is, during that vintage, Ford was using Calipers that had Phenolic (Read a type of plastic) pistons.....over time the brake fluid makes the phenolic swell and stick to the the calipers internal o-ring seal........


So yes, absolutely, replace those calipers with rebuilts......at Autozone of O'Reilly they are only about $60 each.......

Once again this is assuming it is a Ford Chassis that we are talking about.......

Replace the calipers? Hardly. You need to LUBRICATE the calipers and the steel pins that they are supposed to slide back and forth on!


You might need to replace the brake pads, just because it is a 1992 and that you had the brakes 'on' for several miles.

Good luck!

Fred.

Wow! I am impressed with all of the replys. Lots of good info. Thanks to all of you. Now I will get to it and check those calipers out to see what I find. Look for a report from me at a later date.
Thanks again. Jim C

Google the worhorse brake recall info on seized calipers it will give you some tips. If you go to NAPA website and look up your brake parts under the part description there is a line "more info" it gives good tips on troubleshooting, I don't know how to create a link or I would post it. I have a 2003 Pace Arrow on workhorse chassis the brake recall was done and 11 months later I had another sieze. I did the job myself and found the dealer did not change and flush the brake fluid. I used the new DOT 3-4 synthetic by Valvloine. IT IS APPROVED FOR THE OLDER SYSTEMS! it has a higher boiling point and resists moisture. I will cahnge and flush every 2 years

Home Skillet wrote:
Very common on RVs. The caliper pistons start seizing in the calipers.

Replace all the calipers and make sure they have metal pistons.

On that vintage chassis, MUCH more common for the CALIPER SLIDES to seize up.

Yes, if fixed calipers (pistons on BOTH sides of the caliper) it could be a seized piston, but if a sliding caliper (pistons on ONE side of caliper) it is quite likely that you need to clean and lube the CALIPER SLIDES.

Of course, if it has overheated to the point that the pads/rotors are damaged, you need to do a complete brake overhaul.

What chassis is your rig on? Ford Or GM?
Does the rig have drums or discs on the rear?
Is your parking brake on the drive shaft or in the wheel? (Disc brakes are on the drive shaft)
It is possible that the brake line has collapsed on the inside which may not allow the hydraulic fluid to return back toward the master cylinder.

Very common on RVs. The caliper pistons start seizing in the calipers.

Replace all the calipers and make sure they have metal pistons.