I have an 02 Blazer - 4.3L V6 - manual - 2 door. My front brakes/calipers are sticking. I can feel it tight around the rotor when I pull away from a stop. Not locked - just causing a slight hesitation. Same when I roll to a stop - I feel the brakes grabbing, instead of rolling to a stop ( with no breaks applied ) . Sometimes it will loosed a bit if i repeatedly press the brake pedal and for about a month , the problem went away completely. Now it is back - please help.

 

Have you pulled the calipers yet?

 

we changed the pads a few months ago - i'm not sure what you mean by pulled the calipers. They are "floating calipers" ( so I was told ) so we just had to open them to put new pads on , not completely remove them. Ironically, the pads were only 1/2 worn @ 60K miles. Since its a 5 speed , I guess I down shift more than I break.

 

Ok, this is what I needed to hear, you know what I am talking about good. When you pulled the old pads out were they worn evenly or were they thinner on one side then the other? If they were even on both sides the the front is probably not the problem. You will need to check the rear.

 

this also happend to my 2000 blazer, i took it to get looked at and they said the calipers were sticking, i had to get the calipers rebuilt

 

When you changed out the pads did you clean and grease the slide pins?

 

First question, how recently have you loosened the bleeders? (the scary part) The pads are wearing even, that's good, the pins move at least and the caliper self-centers. The two likely possibilities to me are the calipers are sticking or the rubber hose is breaking down internally. The rubber hose can act like a "check valve" not letting pressure release. Try loosening the bleeder and pushing the piston in on the caliper. If it moves in easily then the caliper isn't binding.

 

Have you tried to remove the brake line and push in on the piston to see what how it reacts? Also looking at the color of the fluid. The rubber sock or boot that surrounds the piston can be lifted and then you can see behind it and inspect the condition of it. If all this checks out, you need to start checking the rear calipers and also your E brake shoes and mechanism.

 

As stated, check the condition of the sliders. If they are moving freely, you may have a problem with the rubber lines themselves. Rarely can you actually tell that you have a problem by looking at them, but the liners tend to degrade and can act as a check valve holding pressure in the caliper.

 

thanks guys - I'll tear it down this weekend and let you know what I come up with.