Losing a caliper pin: is that common?

[lotzagoodstuff]

On my way out last evening, I noticed a grinding noise from the driver's side wheel. It was raining hard/noisy but it did seem to start all at once, not gradually. Luckily, I was at a very close watering hole so the round trip wasn't very harmful. I assumed it was a wheel bearing but upon inspection today I found the top caliper pin had vanished. It scored the inside of one of my wheels, but overall not too much damage.

Just wondering: is this a common problem ? I did a quick search and didn't find anything of consequence.

I decided to change all four pins out for new as I didn't want to take any chances.

 

[Goofyexponent]

I have 4 extras in the glove box. Bend the ends of the pins outward when you install them, not a lot but just enough to keep them in place.

I did this when I first put brakes on the truck over a year ago and haven't had a problem yet.

 

[icanfixall]

Nope... Never heard of this happening. What shape were the others you removed....

 

[6.9poweredscout]

When they get old the rubber shrinks as it detoriates, bending out the ends helps. On my '88 bronco 2 they would slide out all the time. My 250 did it sometimes also.

-Jon

 

[Sycostang67]

Plenty of people complain about them getting old and letting the caliper rattle. I dont see why they couldn't fall out if they got worn enough.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

The three that were left looked ok. The rubber was not cracked or shrank, but I fugured I replace them all while I was in there.

 

[NJKen]

Thats one part that should never be reused. If you replace them when you change your brakes you should never have one fall out. I dont know why Ford trusted a piece of rubber to keep a brake caliper on a truck
Ken

 

[sootman73]

make sure you are putting them in in the right direction. if you put them in worng they can either fall out like that or bind up and not let the caliper slide correctly.

 

[typ4]

I put new ones every 3 oil changes, by the fourth they are rattling.

 

[Greenie]

I found one on my driveway just before leaving for a 7,000 mile round trip to Mexico. The original pins lasted 15 years/240K miles, I replaced all 4 - they're not all that expensive considering the job they do.

 

[BigRigTech]

It's happened to me 2 or 3 times, I keep spares in the glove box.......Worn caliper brackets will even spit out new pins....I spread the ends - seems to help.