Hello GM-Truck community! I joined in hopes of garnering some insight and advice regarding my truck issue. I have read through a few threads already and have searched the internet elsehwere trying to find possible causes. My situaiton does not appear to be unique, I humbly request assistance. I have a few seperate but related questions about my problem.
I have a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500HD 4WD 5.3 V8 truck. I am having an issue with the brakes sticking. Before my first attempt at fixing the problem the brakes would stick all of the time on the front wheels only. Foolishly thinking that the calipers were bad I replaced the calipers, pads and rotors. Only after I made this purchase and had work performed did I learn that most caliper problems are from secondary issues.
The problem: After the repair was made the truck seemed to be braking fine. The brake pedal did not feel exactly right, but I pressed on. After about 10 miles or so of highway driving, the brakes began to stick on their own with little or no pressing of the brake pedal. The steering wheel and truck would shake. After stopping for a time, both front wheel rotors were very hot. The back wheels seemed to be fine. The same problem was back much to my frustration.
After sitting for a couple hours with everything cooled down the truck seemed to be okay again. I'm guessing the caliper pistions eventually retracted. The brake pedal still felt a little stiff, but it drove fine without issue. At harder stops I would have to press the brake pedal down harder then usual just to get the truck to slow down. This particular phenomenon is very odd. After a few miles the front brakes would again stick, the rotors would again be hot.
Questions:
1. With the caliper came a few replacement parts. Inside were two bolts or slide pins as I believe they are called, a washer for the brake line, two rubber boots for the mounting bracket and two black rubber tubes that are about 2 inches long or slightly smaller.
My uncle performed this work, I watched, helped and learned. I know that I would have been better off at the start by consulting a certified brake technician, but in the interest of saving a few bucks this was the route I chose. He insisted that these black rubber tubes were supposed to fit over the new bolts that came with the caliper to "prevent it from moving around." From what I have read calipers are supposed to float and slide around on lubed bolts. So he lubed the black rubber tubes and bolt. He slid them on to the very top of the bolt with a lot of resistance. It took a while to get them on. I got a suspicious feeling that this was not right, but I ignored it and we continued.
The caliper was put on the bolts were slid into place. The bolts initially did fit or slide easily inside the mountaing bracket because of these rubber tubes. So he fenagled, pressed hard, twisted and even beat one until it went in. They were tightened and that was it. I thought about removing the bolts, removing the rubber pieces and lubing it back up for remounting.
My questions regarding the tubes are this: Was that the correct procedure? If not, what are the black rubber tubes exactly for? Are the bolts supposed to be bare?
2. What other potential problems could cause my calipers to stick and make my brakes drag?
Sorry for the long post. I just trying to be thorough in figuring this out. Any help, advice, insight is greatly appreciated. I'll check back regularly.
-Adam
