brake caliper pistons breaking

[noxided]

Ive got an 08 f350 drw. I just hauled a load to and from the Rockies from Texas.

I got home and checked my brakes and the pads are good but looked like the rotors are glazed.

I decided to do a brake job but then the calipers were stuck.

I got them off but on every one the pistons crumbled to pieces!

WTF? they looked like some plastic material.

Is this a common issue or did I overheat them?

[jesilvas]

Well, did you overheat them? We don't know how hard you were on the brakes.
Mine kind of look glazed to me, but I'm no expert. I think you can get the turned and they'll be ok.
How many miles?

[noxided]

i was hard on them, I had 20k behind me.

Im not worried about the rotors thats fine.

Im worried about the calipers. The pistons fell to pieces. Is this something that is normal?

[Oguck]

I am new to the diesels however my experience with unleaded vehicles is if you overheat the calipers the pistons can degrade. The pistons are made out a composite material and when it overheats it breaks down. I had this happen on an older truck. The front brake caliper stuck and I drove about 20 min at highway speeds like that. Then I went to stop and the thing exploded. After researching what happened I learned this.


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[SuperCrutyPS]

Originally Posted by Oguck

I am new to the diesels however my experience with unleaded vehicles is if you overheat the calipers the pistons can degrade. The pistons are made out a composite material and when it overheats it breaks down. I had this happen on an older truck. The front brake caliper stuck and I drove about 20 min at highway speeds like that. Then I went to stop and the thing exploded. After researching what happened I learned this.

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Not disagreeing with you at all, but that doesn't make sense to me. These trucks are heavy and are designed to tow heavy. Why would they put a material in there that is known to do what you describe? Does this mean the owner will constantly have to replace their calipers or rebuild them every time they tow?

[jesilvas]

Did you have trailer brakes working?

My Samsung SGH-I997 made me send this.

[noxided]

i do have trailer brakes and they are working, but i was on them, the truck brakes and tow/haul with 20k behind me going down a 5% grade for 6 miles.

[sinner6.0L]

I've seen this a few times on heavier trucks. Never given a thought to why it happens, it has to be due to heat, just make sure your pads slide freely in the caliper brackets and aren't dragging