It seems there are a number of topics around stuck calibers however I may have a new twist on it.

I have a 2004 F-150 with around 70,000 miles on it. Earlier this year (around Feb/March time frame) I was driving down the highway when I pick up a bad front in vibration. Fortunately, the next exit was a rest area. When I got out, the right front brake was smoking and had over heated. I was able to put cold water on it to cool it down and was able to get it home. When I got home, the brakes were fine and had no signs of over heating. One thing to add, I was in heavy commute traffic and though that it might have been a factor in the over heating.

The next morning was driving to work and sure enough the front right brake overheated again. Was able to cool it off again and had no issues to work or on the way home. That said, I did replace the brake pads that night thinking that they might have been the cause, (needed to replace them anyways). A couple of days later, the brake over heated again and decided to take it to a mechanic. The performed a brake system flush, inspected both calibers/lines and found no issues with it. They wanted to replace both front rotors, calibers and brake pads however I could not afford it at the time. I drove it home and parked it and only drove it for short trips. Around later April, I needed to drive it a bit more while keeping a close eye on them and never had a problem. In fact, I have been driving it to and from work all summer (around 75 Miles round trip) and did not have a single problem.

That brings me to the other day. I was driving home from work in some nasty commute traffic and sure enough, the right front brake overheated again, and again it happened last night. Each time, cooling it down with water resolves the problem (which makes since has the heat is adding to the expansion) however this is becoming a regular occurrence once again.

I’ve read that it could be the guide pins on the caliber which I will look into however, could the weather have anything to do with the brake system/fluid? The reason I’m asking is I live in WA is that it first came up in March and has now come up again in November (cold but not freezing, temps from 40-55 degs), however I had no problems during the summer months. Before I go in and replace the calibers, I want to know if it’s something else.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Not sure about yours, cause you may have a different problem from what the mechanic where I work says is probably happening to me. Every once in a while, the right front rotor on my truck will not fully release after pressing on the brakes. The mechanic said it sounds like the brake line is collapsing itself and keeping the pad against the rotor. When this happens to my truck, I have to stop and let it sit for maby 20 or 30 minutes and it releases the pad. I would also be carefull about putting cold water on the rotor when it is hot, as that could warp the rotor. The stock rotor's are bad about that. My stock rotor's were vibrating badly after about 40,000 miles, before I replaced them with ones that were cryo frozen. Hope this helps.

 

Since it seems to only happen in heavy traffic, I wonder if you are looking to the wrong wheel as the problem. Maybe the right wheel is working fine, but doing all the braking because the left one is sticking. You're already doing 70% of your braking with the front brakes.

 

did you buy the truck new or used?