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Hello, just wondering if anyone has tips on how u know if your callipers are siezed? If they are siezed can u just grease it and would it start working again. Or how do you know if they need to be replaced. The reason I ask is because my back brakes thrump, squeel and shake. Also when I lifted my back end and spin the wheel the pads are always closed onto the rotor. I was thinking of just changing the rotors and pads, but the calliper does'nt seem to ever go back to open position. Any replies would be appreciated. thanks...

the back calipers are always a pain. I take mine off put the on the bench, soak with wd40 and pound the pins out with a hammer and equal sized socket. then regrease and install. try not to damage the dust seals. or go buy new ones

My front calipers seized last summer... not cool at all. The pads also needed to be replaced so they permanently made the screeching noise that you hear when you know you need to replace your pads. I ended up putting on remanufactured calipers ~$50 each. I think i remember Vaughn Nishimura (sp?) having an article about how the calipers are prone to seizing, that and how to fix them without replacing the calipers.

I found the link. I know that your problem is with the rear calipers but here it is anyway....<p>http://members.allstream.net/~dragon64/brakes.html

Eww, all too familiar to me. I've had my left rear caliper sieze on me twice now. The last time it siezed it costed me an unreasonable $600 as i had to replace all breakpads too. If the wheel isnt dragging behind and not rolling, then it aint siezed. I wish I was more mehcnically inclined to be able to unsieze the slider myself but no, instead i paid some jerk at mazda to do it for me.
After that I was told that it was my E-break that was causing the slider on the caliper to sieze. So I havent used it since and have had no further issues. Luckily(or not) my car is auto, so I really dont NEED to use the e-break persay. So if your car is auto, stop with the ebreak! if its standard...uhh- keep an eye on 'er!
Anyway good luck, hope yours doesnt sieze up for good!

you might as well get a manual and learn how to do it cause it seems to be in the yearly maintainance mine have been good cause i didn't drive it this winter.<p>
also mine would seize when i pulled the e brake , you can climb uder the car and tap the lever back to loosen the brakes

Thanks for all the replies, I going to try to fix it myself. The front had the same problem, changing the rotors and pads helped, but it still thumps a bit. The back is in horrible shape, I don't mind changing the rotors and pads, I just don't want to have to dish out for new callipers. Thanks again...

I have the same problem with my left rear caliper. I removed the 12mm bolt at the top. Was able to pivot the caliper, but can't get it off the pin where it's supposed to slide. It looks like the metal part of the slider is corroded to the pin.
The upper slider works just perfect. Also the right side caliper slides like a charm.

Macen wrote:I have the same problem with my left rear caliper. I removed the 12mm bolt at the top. Was able to pivot the caliper, but can't get it off the pin where it's supposed to slide. It looks like the metal part of the slider is corroded to the pin.
The upper slider works just perfect. Also the right side caliper slides like a charm.

i jsut took care of this myself a few months back. i didnt realize how freely they were supposed to be able to pivot, since it was my first time goin at it. but it should turn very freely, as well as slide back and forth freely, with just your hand.

if it's at least pivoting a little, then work it back and forth and push at the same time inwards. caliper should be able to come off like that, then you can clean it all up and regrease

I can pivot it without any problem, though I can't slide it back and forth because the lower slider is stuck.

Hello; I got a new rear calliper for $100.00CAD (Mitsubushi - like many other componenets on the MX-3). Works fine now, after bleading the system braking has also improved. But sadly the thumping has not gone away; it's much less noticeable but still not gone (unless it's just in my head *jokes*). I changed the rotor on that side also but not helping so I'm thinking it's the rear hub assembly (but not sure if gonna go that far and send that much $$ already to solve the rear thumping sound on my car). But I gotta say, it's worth it to just go out and get a new or re-built calliper and replace the siezed one. It helps with overall breaking and the e-brake will work again (mine was rusted and would'nt hold the e-brake cable anymore and now the new one fits the cable perfectly). Also, I took appart the old one twice and re-greased it and cleaned it etc.. Did not help, as soon as I re-installed it the calliper would sieze after braking.