Changing my daughters brakes on her 2002 PT Cruiser

Not real happy with my 22 year old daughter. Long story short, I get her car last night with plans to change her front brakes and rotors today. I go to move the care from in front of the house, (where it was dropped off last night,) into the driveway. I can just about push the brake pedal to the floor and barely have any brakes at all. I cannot believe my daughter was driving this vehicle. There is no way in the world she could of stopped quickly if need be. Unbelievable that she would drive the car like this. Not a happy father.

Anyways, I'm curious to see what her brakes look like. (already have new pads and rotors ready to be installed) Her front right brakes were missing one of the brake pads. :yikes The outer pad was gone and the inner pad was worn down to about nothing. The hold down clamps on the brake caliper were touching the rotor. How in the world does a brake pad go missing?

Then I found that the caliper piston was frozen. $47. Not too bad. Luckily the front left piston was fine. I'm baffled as to how my daughter was driving this car and how in the world does a brake pad go missing?

Any ideas?

You got me there, I am thinking either someone messed with it trying to "fix it" for her or maybe pot holes? If the piston was frozen someone might have tried to help and somehow hit the clips holding the pad then it jarred loose. Problem is you are playing a guessing game unless she knows or says something like "yea, one of my friends thought they could fix it". My daughter had a friend like that once so finally I had to tell her the next time he tried to "fix" her vehicle I was going to go to his house and make him pay for and fix the damages he was causing. That stopped it right there.

sounds familiar, but my daughter is 33 y/o :bash

We must all have the same kids!! :biggrin

crazy.... Did you have the rotors turned? dont forget that red sticky pad glue. it helps with the squeel. As far as the missing pad...have no clue lol

The piston was prolly frozen because it hyper extended beyond the seal from the missing and worn pads. With enough slop in the caliper from the pads being worn down it could have and prolly did just rattle out.

Cheers
Frank

ps
BLEED!!!! Get all the air out of the lines.

Dang, I thought I posted this is off topic. Feel free to move it Bill, sorry about that.