I just replaced all the rotors and calipers with a generic brand, Centric I think, any way it all went smoothly except for the right front. I could not retract the caliper far enough for the new pads.
Needing the car for work, I installed one new pad inboard, and an old one outboard. The shuddering and pulsating pedal is gone but it pulls to the left, something it did not do before.
Any ideas why the piston won't go far enough? I am assuming the mix of pads accounts for the pulling, but I don't know what to do with it. Is the back of the piston flat? Does the rotation of the piston matter?

Thanks

 

Rob have you got a piston compressor, it might be just a sticking piston, or seized. Also, did you attempt retracting it with the brake line cracked, you loose a little fluid but it eases the pressure behind the piston.

If it's seized, it's either a caliper refurb or good s/h unit - of which you should be able to get easy and cheap.

 

Sounds like the piston is fully retracted but caliper is not sliding freely on it's mounting pins. It pulls to the left because only 'half' (the new pad on the piston) on the right side brake is working. The pad on the far opposite side is not touching the rotor.

 

I retracted it with a compressor and opening the bleed valve. I have bled the brakes since. I confirmed by using a digital caliper that the piston is not retracting as far back as the left front unit.
I suspect a new unit is in order, but since calipers just have a very simple bore and piston, I can't imagine what 's causing the issue.

 

Rust and corrosion around the topmost portion of the piston can keep the piston from fully retracking. Check for a tear in the rubber dust boot and for corrosion of the piston. I had this problem in my subaru and it was corrosion of the piston caused by water getting past a torn boot

 

why did you replace the calipers???, they seldom need to ever be replaced unless you dont keep up with 2yr/24k brake system fluid flushes and build up moisture in the system and rust/leakage. If it is indeed a new caliper I would suspect mismachined part or foreign object stuck inside bore.

 

Oops! I just rad my first post more carefully. I did not replace the calipers, I meant pads, but had calipers on the brain.

Thanks Rockland, I'll look more carefully at the piston.

 

i think rocklandjag nailed it on the head time to rebuild or replace calipers. ck the slide pins as well