This may sound pretty dumb to some of you but I can't figure it out

[pfar54]

Ok first off I have a 94 ranger XLT. My brakes were getting bad so I decided to change them. I've changed so many brakes before so I'm not a noob to it. I changed the pads and rotors. The driver side ended up fine. Well atleast for clearance issues. The passenger side rubs like crazy. While I'm driving it feels like the brakes are being applied basically on that side. It didn't do this before I had the old brakes on. The rotors weren't even that bad neither. I just wanted to change them while I had the calipers off. I didn't even bother breathing the lines yet neither because of this rubbing so bad. I even did this side twice. I am leaning towards thinking that maybe the spindle is bent somehow? But if feels like the rotor is catching on the top on bottom, so I have no idea. I'm pretty sure I don't have it positioned on there wrong. Do you guys have any ideas from reading this? I can take some pics if necessary to help out. Thanks guys.

 

[modelageek]

I am confused from your post. did you take the wheel off and see what the rotor is hitting if anything. do you mean it feels like the caliper is pushing the pads into the rotor all the time.

 

[AgPete139]

OK...I have a few questions to better assess what's going on.

One of the reasons why the pistons are not retracting enough could be due to an air bubble or air pocket in your caliper/brake lines. Did you disconnect them at all? Is the brake reservoir filled? Explain how you bled the system (again, you may not have gotten out all the bubbles in the caliper). You could try reverse bleeding the system through the caliper...

Another reason why is may be rubbing is that the brake shield may be hitting the rotor. Is it bent or touching the rotor at all?

When you switched the pads, did you depress the piston all the way back in with a 6" C-clamp?

Are you sure that it is grinding/shaving in the front? Are you absolutely sure that it is not scraping in the rear drums? In this case, you could bleed the rear wheel cylinders or double-check that the parking brake is fully retracted as well.

Sometimes when you add new rotors (which are thicker), you must make sure that everything is fully recessed to for clearance issues.


Pete

 

[pfar54]

I haven't bled the system yet because I thought something was going to be rubbing on the passenger side and I was right. I want to get the rubbing problem out of the way first.. Yes I compressed the piston. Even without the caliper or pads on. No matter where and how I position the rotor it rubs. I don't know what's going on. No it isn't hitting the shield. I think it is rubbing mostly against the spindle or spindle bracket... whatever it's called.

 

[modelageek]

where there wheel bearings involved. on my truck i had to pull the bearings to get the rotors off. did you have to do that

 

[modelageek]

I looked up the rotor you had. you had to remove the bearings when you did the rotor. any chance something got screwed up with the bearings did you reuse the bearings, the wrong racer in the rotor, something like that . have you pulled the wheel and caliper off to see if the rotor is hitting the back of the spindle.

 

[pfar54]

I looked up the rotor you had. you had to remove the bearings when you did the rotor. any chance something got screwed up with the bearings did you reuse the bearings, the wrong racer in the rotor, something like that . have you pulled the wheel and caliper off to see if the rotor is hitting the back of the spindle.

Yes I removed the bearing. I reused it as well. I put every piece of it back in exactly how I took it up and I marked the positioning so I knew how far the rotor went back in before I put it all back together. I'll take pics either monday or tuesday because I have to get this thing fixed asap.. I just haven't had time to go back out and work on it because of school and work.

 

[snoopdoggie]

Either there is an issue with the inner bearing/race combination or you may have an incorrect rotor.

 

[modelageek]

I agree if you reused the bearing the rotor must be wrong. on my truck i bought rotors and bearings the bearings came with a race and the same race was in the rotor i bought so i had an extra race i wonder if the rotor is wrong or maybe the race in is incorrect.

 

[pfar54]

what is a race?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The bearing race is the tapered part inside the hub of the rotor that the roller bearing rides on.

 

[modelageek]

is it possible that the new rotor did not come with a race on it and now the rotor got pushed further into the spindle and is hitting it. I would have thought the rotor would not even sit or spin properly but who knows.

 

[AgPete139]

Yes I removed the bearing. I reused it as well. I put every piece of it back in exactly how I took it up and I marked the positioning so I knew how far the rotor went back in before I put it all back together. I'll take pics either monday or tuesday because I have to get this thing fixed asap.. I just haven't had time to go back out and work on it because of school and work.

Have you been able to take pictures yet?

Hm. Good points made by Geek.

It takes a lot of force to damage/bend/distort our spindles. Maybe the bearing was already wearing or is worn in such a way that is difficult for you to see? I'm not one to just buy & replace parts until necessary (trial & error troubleshooting), but perhaps a new $20-30 bearing may be the answer. If it doesn't fix your problem, then you could still return it for a full refund.

The problem is likely a wheel bearing issue.These are tapered roller bearings and are available at most parts stores

Order:
Grease/hub cap,
cotter pin,
nut retainer,
spindle nut,
bearing retainer washer,
and then the front wheel bearing.

Hm, did you tighten the spindle nut to torque specs? (Can't recall right the ft-# right now.) It's pretty straightforward...dunno what else to suggest without being there except try a new bearing, recheck your spindle nut, or just junkyard-source a while new spindle if you are absolutely sure that the spindle is damaged.

If the rotor works on the driver's side and it came as a packaged set (where both parts are identical anyways), it should also work on the passenger side.



Pete

 

[modelageek]

From memory I think I torqeu mine to 25 back off and then 20. I think we all agree you need to pull the rotor off and inspect it carefully if you saved the old rotor you can use it to compare I would probably get new bearings like the last post just said

 

[Downey]

did you put a race into the rotor? if not thats your problem