1995 F250 PSD ECLB 4x4 5-speed, 75,000 (really!) miles.

Had a local shop do the front brakes last year. First time 'round, they effed up something, because both front rims got wicked hot. Turns out both rotors got blued from the heat, calipers weren't returning. So we had them redo the whole job, loaded calipers and rotors.

Fast forward 1 year, and now we're seeing more brake grease than usual on the rims (aftermarket look-alike Alcoas), and increased temperatures (using a cheapo Harbor Freight IR thermometer) on both sides. Fuel economy is also down 1-2 MPG. Without actually removing the calipers, I pulled a couple caliper slider bolts and sliders, and the sliders put up some resistance pulling out, and when I got them out, the grease surfaces were kinda sticky. Makes me wonder what grease they used; probably not the stuff designated for calipers.

So I assume this: CRC/8 oz. (226.796 g.) brake and caliper synthetic grease (05359) | Brake Lube | AutoZone.com is the kind of grease to use, right? And what about getting that sticky old lube out? I assume it's also gummed up inside the rubber boots and in the holes in the calipers. I'm thinking of spraying some brake cleaner in there, giving it a minute or two and then blowing it out with compressed air. Think that'll clean 'em out properly?

Or I wonder if there's an appropriate size gun cleaning brush for this job. IOW, what caliber for this caliper? (Sorry; had to say it....)

 

Sounds like you got it figured out. On a side note, if you keep having issues and have new calipers, it may be something else causing them to stick.

 

You sure it's the calipers and not the pads sticking in the guides? Here in the land of winter salt, brake pads regularly get stuck in the guides and if caught early enough, can be disassembled, cleaned, re-lubricated and reassembled. However, you wait too long (like I always seem to do), the pads get seezed up, requiring an expensive replacement.

The hotter than normal brakes and drop in fuel milage is the sign that something is wrong and the land of brakes.

 

Good point. Thing is, the grease on the pins was sticky. I'll start with them (still wondering if my procedure idea is good...), and monitor. If they still heat up, I'll look into the slides/guides. Same grease for them, right?

You wouldn't know it from all my questions, but DO have the FSM. It just doesn't say jack about how/where to lubricate for proper float/slide, or with what lube.

 

I use the same high temperature grease for wheel bearings on the caliper slides.