1998 Chrysler Sebring Front Brake Calipers Sticking (BOTH)

JLONGO

MEMBER
1998 CHRYSLER SEBRING
2.5L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
186,000 MILES

I recently had the left front caliper stick so bad it was smoking. I replaced calipers, rubber hoses, pads, rotors on both sides. I noticed brake pad guides (Caliper Support? ) Seemed to have some wear indentations apparently from the brake pad ends. I filed the guides smooth. Greased everything. Bled the brakes. Everything seemed to be working for the last month or so, except the left rotor seemed to stick a little. Now both got stuck today and were smoking. They released on their own.

Here is the really weird thing, the brakes in this car have been mushy no matter how many times I've bled the brakes or had them serviced. When the rotors are sticking, the brake pedal also firms up.

What is the best way to diagnose this?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,864 POSTS

The flex hoses were the best suspect, but not when both are doing it.

I really hope I'm wrong on this, but the first thing is to remove the cap from the reservoir and look at the rubber bladder seal under it. If that is blown up and mushy, we have serious problems. Next, get the brake to lock up again, stop on a slight incline, shift to neutral, place a block a few inches down-hill from a tire so you don't look silly chasing after the car, then loosen each of the steel lines at the master cylinder. If the brakes release, we gotta talk.