Got on the M25 this morning and unusually got a bit of speed up before realizing I'd got a problem (apparently down on power + juddering from front wheels). Luckily I didn't have far to the next junction. When I pulled of the nearside wheel was absolutely scorching + disc had gone blue :x
I limped back home through the lanes and let it cool down. I couldn't really see any problems. I pumped the piston out as far as I dared and pulled back the seal and it all looked ok (although the seal wasn't in great shape and now has a small tear). I pumped it out and squeezed it back a few times and it seemed fine.
I cleaned a bit of dried grease off the sliders with some fine wire wool and then cleaned up all the surfaces where the pads locate. There was some corrosion + grit which I removed with a screwdriver and wire wool. I suspect this is where the problem was as they definitely move more freely now.
I greased all relevant surfaces with some Mintex grease and put it back together. A test drive and it seems to be OK. I took it about 5 miles down the road and back and did some very fast to almost stationary stops under full ABS. The brakes really got some heat in to them but seemed to be OK.
I gather from searches on here I'm not the first to have the nearside caliper bind - perhaps this one hits more puddles/crud at the side of the road....?
Now I have a nearly brand new ATE disc which is quite scored and I expect damaged from over heating. The rear discs are also due for replacement.
I have working calipers but one slightly torn seal (presumably the others are equally tired). Also none of the calipers have seen any paint for years so their pretty corroded.
I think I'll remove all the calipers and send them to be refurbed and painted when I go on holiday and then fit new discs etc. when I'm back. Probably a good opportunity to finally remove the CDV too if I'm going to be messing about with brake fluid....
I limped back home through the lanes and let it cool down. I couldn't really see any problems. I pumped the piston out as far as I dared and pulled back the seal and it all looked ok (although the seal wasn't in great shape and now has a small tear). I pumped it out and squeezed it back a few times and it seemed fine.
I cleaned a bit of dried grease off the sliders with some fine wire wool and then cleaned up all the surfaces where the pads locate. There was some corrosion + grit which I removed with a screwdriver and wire wool. I suspect this is where the problem was as they definitely move more freely now.
I greased all relevant surfaces with some Mintex grease and put it back together. A test drive and it seems to be OK. I took it about 5 miles down the road and back and did some very fast to almost stationary stops under full ABS. The brakes really got some heat in to them but seemed to be OK.
I gather from searches on here I'm not the first to have the nearside caliper bind - perhaps this one hits more puddles/crud at the side of the road....?
Now I have a nearly brand new ATE disc which is quite scored and I expect damaged from over heating. The rear discs are also due for replacement.
I have working calipers but one slightly torn seal (presumably the others are equally tired). Also none of the calipers have seen any paint for years so their pretty corroded.
I think I'll remove all the calipers and send them to be refurbed and painted when I go on holiday and then fit new discs etc. when I'm back. Probably a good opportunity to finally remove the CDV too if I'm going to be messing about with brake fluid....
