2012 Prius - New Calipers, Pads Still Dragging (hot brake discs)

It was all about the caliper's cylinder not retracting.

The Raybestols RL calipers that I got, both are not retracting properly. Either because somebody got in too much grease that's not of good quality and the piston slips on the O-ring. OR because the rubber they used in the O-ring is not doing it's job of flexing back - I don't know 100%. I'd have to play those a bit to see if I can figure stuff out.

I think initially, the RL the oem caliper was literally seized from rust accumulation in the pins. I just discarded them not wanting to troubleshoot (you know, in the middle of a Canadian winter, with lots of things to do you kinda feel like saying "nope" when Rockauto gives you new calipers for 120 cad). So the caliper itself might've been good - I keep everything anyway, sorted out, because you never know - like now. I rebuilt it because I saw the boot was broken (an accident - most likely after I took it off as there's no indication of rust inside, I would say). When I measured it with the dial, after the rebuild, the numbers might've been wrong and I caught on this when I saw the dial seizing, leaving a space between it's tip and the cylinder. So I did tests by eye and it seemed to me the Tokico was working fine and I decided to use it and see if I'm right - and I was.

A few more thoughts for future plans ...

I will rebuild both calipers and I will use the Raybestos brackets for now (since they're doing a good job - the Tokico brackets are most likely pitted from rust, just like the pins are, and will damage my rubber bits so polishing a turd might not be a good idea - I think?? opinions?).

I was planning to spray under the car with this special epoxy primer I heard of in the USA (Tamco - they have one urethane and a couple of epoxies which are supposed to be very good for encapsulating and protecting from rust for decades, car restaurers love them) so I should technically put a strong durable finish on those calipers when I get to do those cosmetic mods. Heck I am thinking of painting the whole car. I'll assess it to see how rusted it is - maybe I might wanna pick a newer thing for my projects; I got time to think about it anyway, I won't start until next year. And there's also the purpose it was bought for: mini van life mod.

I'll finish that mod first (of course I'll share pics), test it out AND if they'll finally open those damn borders and let me down to FL that would be sweet. And then decide if I want a newer Prius, a hybrid Highlander or even a manual Civic hatch SI (did I offend anybody ).

 

I noticed this type of negligence with aftermarket parts.

 

I couldn't fathom that a new caliper could be broken. When two new calipers happened to give the same issue I suspected anything but the calipers. Besides been busy enough and at home. You add all that up and months went by.

 

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry, Chap.

Let me confirm again that I'm seeing some stupid low mpgs on my car - I got a reading as low as 4.2 l/100km (56 mpg) per one run. I'm getting my smiles per miles again. So that was my issue - and I'm still on winter tires still since I drove so little this year.

 

Oh yeah - but 1 run of 10-15km : that's not the usual and I can get a heavy foot sometimes. On average, I still hit a bit lower than the advertised mpg. But that's the computer: I have to do the math on paper some day. Either way I wanted from 6.2L averages to 4.8L (say 5L) averages on board, so that caliper cost me a lot of money and time.