Here's my deal. I have an '05 sedan which I noticed some brake smell the other day when I got out. After some inspection, rotating etc I found the drivers-side rear brake is dragging pretty bad. Seems to me like caliper or parking brake, either being a corrosion problem. I'm just curious if this is a common problem with these cars. There's no TSB about it and it just seems strange that a <3yo car with under 40k would have a piston seize.

My other question is how is the dealer going to try to make this a non-warranty problem? I scheduled an appointment and I'm just trying to anticipate what load of BS they're gonna try to give me. I don't see how the pad or rotor could be causing this issue (its sad when you have to be afraid of your dealer).

Thanks for your help

 

Today I discovered the exact same problem. I thought I had a tire problem, so I changed over to the summer tires and found out that that was not it. I'm thinking of ordering a caliper from Rockauto.com but I was wondering if it might be the emergency brake hanging up. Let me know what the dealer tells you.

 

My 03 sedan just started doing this yesterday. The passenger's side rear brake pads are clearly touching and dragging on the rotor. Squeals like a son-of-a-gun. Since the e-brake is a cable actuated drum, that's not my problem.

It should be sticking slider pins; at least I rate that as more likely than the piston sticking. I'm curious what you guys find to be the cause.

 

Brake pads, caliper pins [greasing], and general caliper cleaning are just owner paid mainteance items.

3 years, 40k? When was your last brake service?

 

Just to close the loop, mine was a cut boot and rusted caliper pin. Pads are now worn but work. Surprisingly, no noticable warpage in the rotor.

Since I was the last guy working on my brakes 2 years ago, the onus falls on me.

 

The conclusion to my story was a frozen caliper. Monro Muffler wanted $850 to replace on caliper, rotor and pads. I ordered the parts from Rockauto.com and paid $200. I fixed it myself and all is good now.

3 months ago, I paid the dealer for new pads and hardware kit. The hardware I removed today was rusty, so I think I got screwed.