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Hello All - let me tell you as briefly as possible what happened to me last night - HISTORY -------------- 1990 Roadster, 60 kil, general good condition. Rear pads replaced 3 months ago (mintex) - mechanic said he striped both rear callipers as they were sticking. Car driven daily until 2 weeks ago, now spends all week in garage and driven once a week. SITUATION ----------------- Got the car out last night, noticed I had left the handbrake on. Released it and as I pulled backward I heard a clonk as the brakes unlocked at the back. Drove 2-3 miles to our local Tesco. Bloke flashed me and pointed to my rear left wheel. Got out and noticed black brake smoke coming from the pad. I assume the pad was stuck to the disc? (don't know how brakes work) it seemed the disk could still turn, so I am not sure if it had already freed itself by the time I stopped at Tesco. I janked the handbrake a few times, I couldn't see any clearance from the pad to the disc, but then I couldn't on the other pad either. The car appeared to move without any friction, I could easily push the car. Drove home and there didn't appear to be any more smoke, but the wheel and pad now stunk of the brake stuff. WHAT NOW? -------------------- Is this going to happen every time I leave the handbrake on for more than 24 hours? How can I tell if my brakes are still seized? Should I take the car to the garage? - will they be wanting me to replace the calliper? Is it worth getting someone like the AA out to unsieze the rear brake calliper? Any advice is welcome as I know squat about cars... (3/01) |
| If you are leaving your car for any length of time leave handbrake off and in gear. Some cars more prone to sticking than others. I once used Astra van and often found the handbrake stuck on badly after leaving overnight, even having to call the RAC out on one occasion to release it after wearing the tyre through to the metal trying to release it. (3/01) |
| My brakes seized in the depths of winter, I stripped them down on my drive, sprayed WD40 everywhere in the kitchen sink, regreased everything that moved, plugged them back in, bled the brakes and she been fine ever since..... Please don't get stung by the lying/unknowledgable bastards at most garages. (3/01) |
| I'd have to agree. Having read all the reports of seized rear 5 calipers meaning new/recon calipers I was pleasantly surprised to find that my binding rear caliper had been freed up by the mechanic at my local garage FOC when fitting my rear pads. No problems since. Car is now used weekends only however hand brake is left off in the garge during the week. Brakes rust up during the week and take a good 10 mins driving to clear. So hand brake on would be a definite problem. (3/01) |