Caliper piston failure after accident on it’s corner

ANSWER : Your theory is sound but would be very hard to prove it was damaged in the accident unless it was discovered during the repairs or within a couple of days after getting it back. I have seen these ceramic pistons break apart on their own and crack under normal use. Because you had major damage to that side of your vehicle, you may be able to get the insurance company to fix it, but I would not bet on it. Have a mechanic check to see if the caliper sustained any type if damage that may prove it was damaged in the accident. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can help with your brake caliper replacement.

ANSWER : Congratulations for using the right parts and being concerned about the details, especially when brakes are involved. I suggest you play it safe and have a technician inspect your brake pads and brake rotors. There is no substitute for an experienced set of eyes and hands that have performed many brake repairs.

ANSWER : You should install the brake cable before installing the brake caliper. You may have to turn in the caliper again to get it back over the rotor when installing it. If you want to have this done for you, a technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to correctly install the parking cable (and caliper) for you – just let them know that you already have the parts.

ANSWER : The rear calipers on this vehicle incorporate the parking brake system. The parking brake system uses a rotating screw inside the caliper that will push the caliper piston out when parking brake lever is rotated on the caliper. When the caliper piston is pushed back in it is required to screw the piston in while pushing it back. If there was excessive force put on the piston trying to push it back without twisting the caliper piston or parking brake mechanism inside the caliper may be damaged. As long as the caliper does not bind when brake pads are installed and pressure is put on the caliper piston and brakes work normal then you should not have any problems with calipers. If any binding of the rotor is felt when brake pedal is released then replace calipers since they may have been damaged during attempts to push them back without turning the piston.

ANSWER : Hello – you would certainly have air in the brake system after having the brake caliper piston pop out as you describe, which would require bleeding the brakes to repair, and it’s quite likely the caliper piston seal was damaged as well. I would recommend replacing the brake caliper by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, and repair this problem. The caliper replacement service includes bleeding the brake system.

ANSWER : The caliper bracket bolts are 125 ft lbs. The banjo bolt for line connection is 35 ft lbs. The caliper slide bolts are 26 ft. lbs.

ANSWER : Hi there. Typically this is a failure in the ignition control circuit. Most of the time it is a wiring failure going to the ignition coils such as a bad ground connection. It can also be caused by a failure in the main computer which happens most of the time on this vehicle.

I usually start by checking the circuit for power to eliminate a blown fuse or ignition switch issue. If no problems are found there then I move on to testing the wiring and the computer to see which one the vehicle needs.

If you are looking to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home to diagnose your trouble code firsthand and repair this as necessary.

ANSWER : All four wheels have to be bled starting with the right rear, then left rear, right front, and left front. Inasmuch as air may be trapped as much as 10 feet from the bleeder screw, you have to have a relatively fast, and substantial (in volume) flow of brake fluid during bleeding to expel all air from the system. Generally, 5 to 10 PSI on a pressure system is sufficient. 20 PSI is not necessary. You should use a power bleeder, they are not very expensive for a simple one. If you car is equipped with ABS and/or electronic stability control, you will need a VAG 1551, VAG 1552, or equivalent bi-directional scan tool that is capable of activating the ABS/ESC pump. Activation is necessary to expel air from the ABS components of the system. If you would like to have this checked, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can come to your location to inspect the spongy brake issue and let you know what needs repair.