Nearside rear brake jams on.....

[Dundeesfinest]

Just a quick question. Over the past few weeks, pretty much on a daily basis, my n/s rear brake jams on. Sometimes its only jammed for a few mins and other times its on all day. I can trace it to the n/s rear as the wheel is now covered in brake dust. Its also starting to do that horrid scrapping noise so Im thinking Im damaging the disc more and more as I drive. Any suggestions as to whats causing this and what the best solution might be? Ive called around for prices to have all the pads replaced but thought Id ask here first.

Cheers

Derek

[LotusLee]

If the discs and pads still have life in them you can probably just remove the pads and clean up/ copper grease the moving parts in the calipers. I done this to the rear brakes on my van last week as the brake pads had rusted solid to the caliper and were binding, some light filing and copper grease and they are fine now.

[LotusLee]

p.s scraping noise might mean the pads are down to the metal

[campbell]

Sounds like a seized caliper, I had one of those and unless you buy and use the refurb kit (a bit of tech know how and time involved there), the best bet is source another low mileage one from a breaker's.

BUT, before you write it off, you need to rule out handbrake cable seizing/lube as i think there is an outside chance it's just that. This is what caused my first binding rear brake...but the fecked caliper caused the second.

Hope that helps.

Campbell

[robin]

Disconnect the handbrake cable from both wheels; if you can be arsed remove the pads and wind the pistons back in 1/4 of a turn (don't wind them all the way back or your pedal will go to the deck!).

Now drive the car for a day or two and see whether it still happens. If it does then the problem is the caliper sticking on the slide. If it does not happen anymore the problem is the handbrake cable tugging on the lever all the time.

Cheers,
Robin

P.S. You need to remember you have no handbrake - perhaps put some gaffer tape or something else that you'll feel on the handbrake lever so that you are reminded whenever you were going to use the handbrake that it won't work!

[campbell]

P.S. You need to remember you have no handbrake - perhaps put some gaffer tape or something else that you'll feel on the handbrake lever so that you are reminded whenever you were going to use the handbrake that it won't work!

I only recently rubbed off the gaffatape adhesive from mine, having done likewise last summer...oh the memories