Driving home today I smelled something burning then my 97 f-150 started pulling to the right, thought I had a flat, but tire was fine. The brake disc was extremely overheated and dragged when turned. I pryed calipers back alittle and nursed her home without to much overheating. Do you all think it's a caliper problem? Front pads were changed about a year ago. No greasy mess just abundant brake dust on the rim. Thanks in advance!
Van

 

Yep time for a new caliper

 

Deffinetly new caliper.

 

u do one... u do both rule of thumb unless its a rear then u can ( isay that softly) do one... but in front definately if u do one u do them both

 

yea like he said do both its better that way yea it may cost twice as much but better off in the long run

 

Thanks guys- less than a $100.00 and a couple hours and I'm back on the road.

 

I hope you replaced the wheel bearings too.

 

replacing the caliper after it heated up is a must now, but it might not have been the problem. I had a truck years ago that I had the same problem, I replaced just about everything on the right front and a oldtimer asked me at AutoZone how old the rubber brake line is, and he told me that even though it was not leaking the lines deteriate on the inside and that the pressure from the brake pedal pushes the brake out but there is NO pressure to make it release. It will a little but it will do what yours did.

For under ten bucks I took his advice and put the hose on first and used the same caliper I had started with and it was fixed. So you may want to check for the wheel to rotate before you take off down the road. Apply the brakes a few good times and make sure the caliper releases. I just wanted to add another common problem.