Hey list,
I've never felt very safe on the Dakota caliper pins... and yesterday
I was reminded why. SO remember to check those pins once in a while
and when you install them, apply the threadlocker liberaly.
I took my truck for it's first drive on East Beach in RI (got my
permit yesterday). What a thrill driving on the beach! Anyway, I aired
up my tires, left the beach, got to the first stop sign, and the brake
pedal dropped to the floor - S*#T! A quick downshift and what
remaining braking ability I had left stopped me in time. I find brake
fluid squirting... hmmph, must have whacked a brake line while
bouncing around on the sand.
So, I jack 'er up, pop the wheel off... the fluid is coming from the
fitting on the caliper! Why the heck would that happen... oh! I'm
missing a caliper pin. I'm convinced the pin fell out some time ago,
and either the bouncing around on the beach or just plain coincidence
(and the loose caliper) shook the fitting free. Well, I tightened the
fitting, limped over to the nearest Autozone, picked up a set of pins,
and got her back together again. I guess with little 3/8" hose I could
have even bled the brakes on the side of the road... but I didn't
think about it, and limped home on a sponge.
Anyone else had a caliper pin shimmy free before? I guess I'll keep a
spare pin and that 3/8" hose in my truck from now on.
Don in CT
89 Dakota Convertible 318mag NV3500 4x4
74 Dart Sport 340
pbase.com/radon220/mopars
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