CleanFlow

My 02 V6 Mustang has had braking problems and "stuck calipers" for the last 8 years. I usually replace calipers, rotors, pads, and fluid and it just keeps happening. This time I replaced hoses, calipers, rotors, pads, and flushed fluid and I'm still getting the caliper drag. On a 7-minute commute my Driver Front rotor got up to 190 degrees f.

What is next? Replace the steel lines or the proportioning valve or the master cylinder? I'm tired of spending all this money and still having issues. Do you all know of any of these three parts that will cause my symptoms? Worst case scenario I replace all three, but I feel that is a little excessive.

Thank you.

KrazyKen

Wheel bearing perhaps? If you jack the car up and spin the wheel, do you hear a humming or rubbing/grinding noise?

Rapscallion Stallion

This is the original poster. I forgot my password until just now.

With everything off the lugs, the wheel turns mostly freely. I have extreme minimal looseness in the hub with no grinding. With the caliper off, we are good. From troubleshooting, I would guess it would have to be an obstruction with the suction of the fluid. The car is great at pushing fluid, but it sucks at pulling it back.

jwog666

fluid in a brake system doesnt get "sucked back" the piston that applies pressure is simply released, by your post you have replaced just about everything, wich leaves the possibility that the master cylinder, abs hydraulic unit, or somethng you missed is still bad. without laying eyes on it at this point you will not have much luck getting answers. time to hit up a good mechanic for some diagnosis

petrock

There shouldn’t be any loosens in the hub. If it wiggles at all then it is bad and should be replaced. A wobbling rotor (due to a wobbling hub) could cause the brake drag problem you are experiencing. Other then that, check the hard brake lines for dents/kinks/damage. They also have a tendency to rust from the inside out if you live in a rust prone area. I’m not sure how you would test for that though.
As jwog666 mentioned, the fluid isn’t sucked back in. The piston is pulled back into the caliper slightly by the square-cut o-ring inside the piston bore. It’s not a lot of pulling power, but with a properly operating brake system it works great since it doesn’t need to pull the piston back into the cylinder that far (think milli-meters). I also agree that it may be time for a mechanic to take a look.

PNYXPRESS

Have you looked at the slider pins on the caliper bracket. If those are rusted up they the brakes wont release.