How do I know if I need brake calipers on my 2003 Acura RSX?

Pretty decent exchange ... so far!

First...
"Shimming" is between the hub and the rotor
to re-center the worn rotor. I have found "shims"
to be every bit as expensive and labor intensive
as REPLACEMENT rotors...

Discussing SHIMs further lends them respectability.
They ARE NOT the proximate cause of your
immediate trouble... Nor would be your rotors

Just to PROVOKE thoughts a little further...

(In my opinion)

If the BRAKE FLUID was not COMPLETELY
FLUSHED & Replaced at required intervals:

Those BRAKE CALIPERs are MOST LIKELY
the cause of your troubles. Corrosion forms
when WATER accumulates in the BRAKE FLUID.

Pistons no longer move FREELY...

Caliper repair kits (on rockauto) are incredibly
inexpensive... 2003 GMC ENVOY 5 3L V8 Caliper Rockauto

Calipers start at about $50 and rise with your
needs, dreams & aspirations.

Hope this helps.

Carnac the Magnificent

Hi. Your adjustment on rear brake indside rotor if off on one side. Pool both rotors out and you will see the distances in between the hand brake pads are different. Masure it and adjust it. Hand brakes are mechanical no hydraulics so it must be your adjustment

Hey Stan the man,need your vehicles info.,year,make,model and engine size and Tommy on the spot here will send you a picture diagram of your rear brake assembly.There's a special spring tool you can get at auto parts store to remove and install springs,me got one.

Same as above, but balljoints and tierod ends can bang when brakes are tightened or released. Loose brake caliper or sticking brake caliper. Sometimes motor mounts can be affected by brake action.

If you look at each brake pad you will see a difference between the outer and inner pad. The outer pad has a metal squealer part that sticks away from the pad material. Each squealer is intended to rub the Rotor when the material on the pad is worned off.

I think you may have both outer pads on the left side. Looking at your grooved Rotor, you should be able to see what is sticking out and hitting it. The new Caliper can be sticking, and if it is defective, you should be compensated new pads for the damage it caused and a Rotor.

Now when you decided to replace the Caliper, there must have been a reason. Did you check the front hub bearing when the Rotor was off? A bad bearing will cause a Rotor to run tilted or offset if there is enough play in it. You are going to check the pads, you should check the CV joint and the Hub bearing for roughness.

The idea of a bad brake line is not impossible. The theory on them is that your Brake line has several thousands of pounds of pressure to expand the Caliper piston and only Gravity and suction to take the pressure off. In theory, the brake line is like a one way valve if it is failing.

I would like to know how you made out on this. I had a time with my personal truck brakes. A broken front brake line led to $700 in parts and my own labor. Every brake line on my truck broke on one end, so I know what you mean about added expenses. You just have to keep going until the vehicle is right.

You'll need the Allen or Torz wrench that fits the locking bolts on the caliper so you can remove the calipers and you will need a caliper compressor to compress the caliper cylinders to install the new brake pads once you replace the rotors. I would have the Rotors checked to verify they need to be replaced before replacing them. It is possible you can save money by simply having them turned instead. $25 for each rotor is better than the normal $150 to $250 to get new ones.

Yes, it has rear Disc Brakes, I would suggest to change the rear pads since they have to remove the rear Brake Calipers to remove the rotors and it wouldn't take much more time or labor to replace the pads at that point. That way when your rear rotors are re-installed and your new brake pads are installed your rear brakes should give you longer service life and better stopping power.

Remove brake fluid from the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir until the reservoir is approximately 1/2 full. Discard the removed fluid.

1. Raise and safely support the front of the vehicle. Remove the front wheels.
   

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
2. Front brake caliper guide pin bolts
   

• Brake caliper by slowly sliding it up and off the adapter and brake rotor. Support the caliper out of the way with a strong piece of wire. Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose or damage to the brake hose will result.
  

1. If necessary, compress the caliper piston into the bore using a C-clamp. Insert a suitable piece of wood between the C-clamp and caliper piston to protect the piston.
2. Outboard disc brake pad from the caliper by prying the brake pad retaining clip over the raised area on the caliper. Slide the brake pad down and off the caliper.
   

• Inboard disc brake pad from the caliper by pulling the brake pad away from the caliper piston until the retaining clip on the pad is free from the caliper piston cavity
  

To install:

1. Be sure the caliper piston has been completely retracted into the piston bore of the caliper assembly. This is required when installing the brake caliper equipped with new brake pads.
   
2. If equipped, remove the protective paper from the noise suppression gaskets on the new disc brake pads.
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   
   • New inboard disc brake pad into the caliper piston by pressing the pad firmly into the cavity of the caliper piston. Be sure the new inboard brake pad is seated squarely against the face of the brake caliper piston.
     
   • Outboard disc brake pad by sliding it onto the caliper assembly
     
   • Brake caliper assembly over the brake rotor and onto the steering knuckle adapter
     
   • Caliper guide pin bolts and torque to: 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm) on 2002–04 models or 26 ft. lbs. (35 Nm) on 2005 models
     
   • Front. Apply the brake pedal several times until a firm pedal is obtained.
     
4. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder and add fluid as necessary. Road-test the vehicle.
   

For the rotors:

1. Remove brake fluid from the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir until the reservoir is approximately 1/2 full. Discard the removed fluid.
   
2. Raise and safely support the front of the vehicle. Remove the front wheels.
   

1. Remove or disconnect the following:
2. Front brake caliper guide pin bolts
   

• Brake caliper by slowly sliding it up and off the adapter and brake rotor. Support the caliper out of the way with a strong piece of wire. Do not let the caliper hang by the brake hose or damage to the brake hose will result.
  

1. If necessary, compress the caliper piston into the bore using a C-clamp. Insert a suitable piece of wood between the C-clamp and caliper piston to protect the piston.
2. Outboard disc brake pad from the caliper by prying the brake pad retaining clip over the raised area on the caliper. Slide the brake pad down and off the caliper.
   

• Inboard disc brake pad from the caliper by pulling the brake pad away from the caliper piston until the retaining clip on the pad is free from the caliper piston cavity
  

To install:

1. Be sure the caliper piston has been completely retracted into the piston bore of the caliper assembly. This is required when installing the brake caliper equipped with new brake pads.
   
2. If equipped, remove the protective paper from the noise suppression gaskets on the new disc brake pads.
   
3. Install or connect the following:
   
   • New inboard disc brake pad into the caliper piston by pressing the pad firmly into the cavity of the caliper piston. Be sure the new inboard brake pad is seated squarely against the face of the brake caliper piston.
     
   • Outboard disc brake pad by sliding it onto the caliper assembly
     
   • Brake caliper assembly over the brake rotor and onto the steering knuckle adapter
     
   • Caliper guide pin bolts and torque to: 35 ft. lbs. (47 Nm) on 2002–04 models or 26 ft. lbs. (35 Nm) on 2005 models
     
   • Front. Apply the brake pedal several times until a firm pedal is obtained.
     
4. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder and add fluid as necessary. Road-test the vehicle.
   

jack up the rear of the car remove wheels and tires, remove the two caliper bolts, remove old brake pads, using a c clamp push each piston the the caliper bake in install new pads, reinstall caliper install wheels and tires lower the jack and your done
caliper bolts are torque head bolts be sure to have the proper size before trying to change the brakes

Take off the wheel, remove the brake caliper (2 bolts on the back), then the rotor just slides off, the wheel studs are part of the hub assembly not the rotor.