.... or should you jsta get reman ones ? I mean STICKING so bad that the rotors and pads started SMOKING !!

And I’ve heard of one instance of this starting a fire !

it isn't just FWD calipers that are doing this. I've had it on 4 of my 6 Dakotas over the years, and replace calipers at work on newer F150s at least a set every other week for this same problem, often soon after pushing the pistons back in for a brake job.... and no, not all of those brake jobs had been done by me.. as a fleet mechanic you never know who worked on a vehicle before you.... I work for the State I live in. one was on an F150 that I did as a side job, truck had been sitting a couple years because of a dead trans... I had to replace that trans, and had a caliper seize up 6 miles from home on the maiden test drive with the new trans.... in most cases for the price of reman calipers these days just change them out and drive on... they have come way down in price.

I have had two other instances of sticking other than the FWD deals ... a 98 dodge diesel dually and a older full size van. Just worked the piston in and out several cycles(a little corrosion in the bore) then no problem. But these FWD pieces with the phenolic pistons ??!! ...

Doc just make sure it's the caliper piston seized and not a hydraulic issue. Crack the bleeder or banjo fitting when the seizure is happening and see If the wheel turns

Gus

That's a good test to see if it is the caliper or the hose. Although on the Mopars I have seen quite a few stiff calipers, but don't remember the last time I saw a collapsed hose.

Either way, don't forget the pick-a-part yards if you have the time. You can usually find already replaced calipers for $20+/- a piece. And that is hose and all.

For what it's worth... often it's not the caliper. If the flex hoses are not factory, there is a very strong likelihood that the issue is the flex hose disintegrating on the inside. It may look great on the outside, won't collapse, but cut the hose in half and you may find the issue for the 'sticking caliper.'

It's all this environmentally friendly or chinese rubber. Gets you every time

When I had my Durango they worked perfect.Changed pads and rotors at the shop.Left went maybe 20 miles and one locked up.Brought it back and changed the calipar.Left because I was in a hurry ti get somewhere I didnt change both.Well about 15 miles and the other locked.Back again and changed that one.Never had any problems before that.Never change just one .Always do pairs especially at the cost.Oh yeah years ago we rebuilt them at the shop.Now its cheaper to replace them.Rocky

First .... thx guys fer yur inputs .... I’ll bet many guys here ESPECIALLY THAT ANCIENT ONE from Niles MICHIGAN(go blue!) ....

I’ll bet most of youz guyz have done more brake jobs IN A MONTH ... than I’ve done in my life ... being NOW a tad over 40 !

4G .... to elaborate- I’ve had this happen a couple of times - I learned to carry with me a 12” C clamp to PUSH IN the piston while on the road !!! ... yeah ... I’ve pulled into a parking lot - jacked up the car on the offending end - removed the wheel and then pressed in the piston a couple times and then NOT had a problem. But I did have one hang up so bad that it warped a BRAND NEW rotor. Even now ... a 45 mph stop NO PROBLEM but a 70 mph harder stop .... will give your foot a severe massage!

THIS is my best considered option ..... but where are the reasonably priced CALIPERS alone ?

If it is possible to 'turn' and reuse original rotors, it is usually best to do so. Most aftermarket rotors are from overseas and the reason for purchase is low price. But they are not nearly as good as the OE ones. They will warp much easier.

I was on Woodward Ave. last year in my 02 Jeep, a couple nights before the actual "cruise" day on Sat. Just making a couple laps with a friend.
After the first lap, we started smelling that "smell"...smelled like a smoked clutch! I thought it was the guy in front of me, traffic was stop and go, for a couple miles,
at that point. The further we went the smell got worse, so I pulled into the nearest parking lot, and sure enough, the right rear caliper was locked up! Just touching the wheel slightly, was extremely hot. So, point is, I had to REPLACE the caliper, and pads, it was damaged too much to repair.

rRl .. did you ever pull that caliper apart ? ... since I ordered remans with no core return .. I’m pulling mine apart

Another thing to check, is to look and see if there is a metal clamp holding the rubber flex hose. I swore the calipers were sticking on my wifes Saturn Vue. Turns out, it was a metal clamp holding the hoses away from the suspension that had rusted on the inner sides....which was enough to mash the hose shut and not let the caliper release. Naturally....I figured that out after replacing BOTH calipers just to have them stick again!

The day before Dream Cruise, my brakes in my 09 Challenger started grinding. I stuck my cell phone in there, outer pad had plenty of life left, but the inner one was gone! The slides had gotten dirt in them and locked up! So the morning of dream cruise I was doing a brake job in a friends driveway!

And on my 1990 Minivan, one of my front calipers locked up 100 miles after being swapped out. Some of these have been rebuilt many times, and my friend said it is the luck of the draw with such an old Minivan nowadays.