When I bought my 96 Turbo wagon, the pedal was very soft on the brakes. After a bit of investigating, I found that the master cylinder had been replaced and that new pads had been put on all the way around, but the rotors were in bad shape. I got new rotors all the way round and put them on and the brakes were much improved. Still not perfect, but good enough to stop quick, straight and true.

The other day on my way to work, I noticed a pulsing sensation as I began to stop at the coming light. It didn't feeling like ABS pulsing or even warped rotors, more like a sticky caliper. I also noticed that my gas mileage began to decrease...today I jack the car up and turned the rear wheel and there was a bit of rub, nothing abnormal I don't think. When I got to the front wheel, it wouldn't roll at all at first. With a lot strength, I finally got it to roll with a ton of rub. Jacked up the other side and the back tire was just a bit of rub and the front was just a bit. What I would call normal.

So it seems that I've already pretty much got a good idea that the caliper is either gone bad and it just having a few problems. I'm here to ask for any suggestions. Are they easy to rebuild or should I buy another? Either way, do you guys have any suggestions where I can get the parts for the best price? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Love my Turbobrick, this is my 5th!

Two 240 Gt's
One 245 GT
94 850 Turbo Wagon
96 850 Platinum Edition Wagon

Rebuilt calipers are fairly cheap, buy one for the front. The problem I has was trying to get the brake line disconnected, it required heat.
Remember to flush the brake fluid completely when the new caliper is on. A little rubbing is normal.

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Thank Klaus. It's always good for me to see your name associated with my questions. You do a great service here. In my length problem that I typed talked of a new master cylinder and pads on this car just before I purchased it. Do you think I still need to change out the fluid? It looks to be almost brand new. Perfectly clear and topped off. I was thinking of putting on some stainless brake lines, so that will require some bleeding and flushing and such...anyway, enough of my rambling. Thank you again.

When a caliper gets stuck, it generates a lot of heat and "cooks" the fluid near the caliper. I always reccomend replacing the fluid with major surgery, nevver knowing what the previous did. There is a new and improved fluid on the market which is colored light blue, I think, which lets you know if all of the old fluid has been flushed. Look into it.
Metal brake lines are good. For bedding in pads and rotors, check this site: http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedincontents.shtml

Klaus

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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Mr. Klaus is right, do replace the fluid. It is a safety measure. Also, I suggest you replace both front calipers unless you are absolutely sure that the the non-sticking one is much newer than the bad one. Don't take short cuts with brakes.

AAhhh....that didn't occur to me...the cooking that is...Again, thank you so much for your imput.

i also would recomend replacing both front calipers, stainless brake lines are nice too. the company that makes the blue brake fluid also has the amber color fluid so you can switch colors the next time you flush the system so that you know you have flushed enough fluid when the color has changed. FCP Groton caries all of this and has a very nice power brake bleeder for about $45.00, this is one of the best tools i have ever used. i was able to bleed the complete system by myself, very quickly and not have to try to get my wife to pump the pedal, she thought it was great to since she has helped bleed brakes too many times in the last 25 years. good luck, bobd