Front Caliper Seizure
Symptoms
Car pulls to one side under braking. One front wheel noticeably hotter than the other. Uneven pad wear. Binding sensation when driving.
Cause
The front calipers use multiple pistons and slide pins that corrode and seize, particularly on cars that sit for extended periods. The caliper mounting bolts can also seize into the steering arm, making removal a significant challenge. Forum reports describe needing to rock the entire steering arm assembly to extract seized caliper bolts.
Fix
Remove the calipers, strip and clean all pistons and bores, replace all seals and boots, and regrease the slide pins with high-temperature brake grease.
New pistons may be needed if the bores are pitted.
Budget $400-800 per caliper for a rebuild, or $600-1,200 for reconditioned exchange units.
Replace brake hoses at the same time, old rubber hoses collapse internally and act as one-way valves, causing calipers to bind even after rebuilding.
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