03 Saturn Vue R.Front brake overheats

SDE · Oct 7, 2016

The pads and the rotors were replaced a few thousand miles ago. Twice in recent months the brake has gotten very hot. I think the pad is sticking in the caliper frame. It is rusted and I tried to file it down a little. How loose can they be or do they need to be snug?
Thank you
SDE

Jdr315 · Oct 7, 2016

It should have slides you replace in the carrier when you replace the pads. They clip into the carrier. If you replaced those and still have a problem with burning up pads you could have some caliper pins sticking or a caliper itself sticking.

johnlobb · Oct 7, 2016

Saturnfans.com has the best advice on Saturns. They helped me immensely when I refurbished my '99 SL1. I just took it on a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, drove probably 1500 miles and averaged 39.75 MPG. VERY helpful people...

4play · Oct 7, 2016

Lift front tires off the ground, have a friend press and release the brake pedal and see if you can turn the tire immediately after the brake pedal is released, check both sides I have seen brake lines cause drag along with abs valve/module, master cylinder if both drag. If the brake is dragging you can pull the wheel off and open the bleeder to see if it's a hydraulic or mechanical fault.

Brake Pads should fit the bracket without a lot of play, they definitely should be able to slide freely.
If they are too loose that can cause them to make noise, usually a click or pop when braking after going forward to reverse etc

RBoots · Oct 7, 2016

A couple things, the rubber brake line could be collapsing inside, and, many of the brake pads you get now days are pretty junky. I've had a few I had to file the tabs to fit in the slides and caliper bracket, they were too big. My dad was the mechanic for a nearby city, and the police cars were part of his responsibility. He said about every 3 months they needed brake pads, and it seemed that many of them he would have to file the tabs to get them to fit after the local auto parts store changed suppliers. The guys at the parts store said it had become quite an issue after they changed suppliers, but they had no control over it, as the deal was done by their parent store.

Roger Tomfohrde · Oct 8, 2016

I second the brake line , Had it happen to our 2002 VUE. Replaced both sides and no problems from the brakes. Just needs new bearings again at almost 300,000.

John B. · Oct 8, 2016

I would find out or do you know how hard it was to push the piston back into the caliper? If it was stiff replace the caliper and always replace calipers in pairs meaning both front or both rear.
I have seen more calipers stick (thank brake lines go bad) and cause such problems and worse. We're not sure if any other work has been done on the car that may be over looked like air in the brake system so the one getting hot is doing all the work.

SDE · Oct 8, 2016

I will check in to replacing the brake line and to also file the ends a little more. The pistons move as freely as I think they would if they were new, and so I do not believe that they are the problem.
Thank you one and all.
SDE

John B. · Oct 8, 2016

Let us know what you find...

03 Saturn Vue R.Front brake overheats

SDE

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Jdr315

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johnlobb

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4play

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RBoots

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Roger Tomfohrde

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John B.

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SDE

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John B.

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