Advice on a caliper problem please!

saitrix

saitrix

saitrix

Soldato
Joined
2 Jun 2003
Posts
8,950
Location
Nottingham
Hi,

My Dolly failed mot on a few things the other day. One being the front drivers brake is binding so is always engaged with the disc. So today I decided to take the caliper off to have a look.

Well I let off the bleed nipple and tried to push the cylinder back inwards, well it went in only very slightly but still not enough. If I was to try and get the caliper back on then I would have to hammer it onto the disc, thus still bind.

Any ideas on what I can do?
 
If the piston won't retract that's probably what's wrong with it. Sounds like it needs taking off and stripping, it's rare that just looking at something fixes it. Hammering it back on is seriously not a good idea either.
 
Akira said:
If the piston won't retract that's probably what's wrong with it. Sounds like it needs taking off and stripping, it's rare that just looking at something fixes it. Hammering it back on is seriously not a good idea either.
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Don't worry I didn't hammer is back in, just pushed it to see if it was a little stuck, plus I was looking for the amount of debris around it.
 
Give it a good clean around the piston with petrol or brake cleaner, undo the bleed nipple and keep a constant pressure on the piston with a G-clamp or mole grips or something? They don't move quickly at all when they do move, could this be it?
 
Get a rebuild kit or just buy a new caliper - only real way to make sure it's all OK - check the lines as well to see if they're in serviceable condition. Even if they look OK they can be collapsing internally.
 
Make sure the piston doesnt need rewound back in, for this you'll need a piston rewind tool. If not use a G-clamp to force it back.
 
They are usually surprisingly hard to push back in when still connected - my 406 ones needed a large lever to do so and even then they moved incredibly slowly

James
 
I will have a look at it tonight, if it doesn't look like it will go then I'll get a new caliper.

Lewis, suggestions on best places to buy them? Looked at rimmers and its a bit expensive, even for a refurb.
 
I'd definitely look at getting an exchange caliper - by the time you've forked out for a seal kit (hard to come by for many cars these days) and rebuilt it it's easier to just replace the whole unit.

£38.34 plus refundable surcharge from http://www.brakeparts.co.uk/ per caliper.
 
Lashout_UK said:
check the lines as well to see if they're in serviceable condition. Even if they look OK they can be collapsing internally.
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I was stumped with a similar problem on a VW beetle years back, eventually I traced the problem to the flexible hose which was acting like a one-way valve due to the gunk/collapse. I replaced the hose, and all was well again!
 
Lopéz said:
I'd definitely look at getting an exchange caliper - by the time you've forked out for a seal kit (hard to come by for many cars these days) and rebuilt it it's easier to just replace the whole unit.

£38.34 plus refundable surcharge from http://www.brakeparts.co.uk/ per caliper.
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Accually I have already sourced a seal kit for £6.50 in Measham (20 minute drive away). So seal kit you think then?
 
It can be worth a go but it depends how much you want to arse about - the moment you get the pistons out and find they're shot anyway, you'll just be wanting a replacement caliper.
 
Little update. Tried getting the cylinders out, one completely seized so I will just buy a new caliper. Found I can get one for £30 fairly local to me if I give them the old caliper. So that seems reasonable enough.
 
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