Offside front brake sticking?!

apeskin

Just had my MOT and thankfully the car passed :T:T

One advisory though - brake sticking. Now, I've driven the car at speed (50 mph) and I notice the car does have a pull to the right which sounds consistent with a sticking brake. So what I did was I did a little strip down. Starting with the guide rods. Took them out of the boot. Inspected those and spun the rotor. Still sticking. Reinstalled the rods proceeded to take the actual pad off. Rotated again, the rotor still sticks at a certain point!

Any idea what this could be?

System

Seizing caliper piston. Just had to do my MX5 for the same thing. Thought it was the slider rods as one of those was seized but after freeing it off and putting it all back together the caliper was extremely slow to release. Just bit the bullet and paid £60 for a reconditioned caliper and fitted it myself, job done.

Norman_Castle

Reinstalled the rods proceeded to take the actual pad off.

Aren't there two pads? Take the pads out and clean where the pads and caliper meet. A pad may be tight in the caliper.

forgotmyname

Time for some new brakes.

Strider590

A lot of every day cars now have single piston callipers, they rely heavily on the rods and return springs being clean and in working order.

Take another look, use a small pry bar or similar to lever the pads away from the disc, you won't get much movement. Try to figure out what sticks, if the inside pad sticks then the piston has issues, if the outer pad sticks then the rods/springs/etc have issues.

bertiewhite

apeskin wrote: »

Rotated again, the rotor still sticks at a certain point!

Any idea what this could be?

Sounds like a warped disc to me if it's only sticking at a certain point.

firefox1956

Surprised it passed the MOT

Strider590

firefox1956 wrote: »

Surprised it passed the MOT

As long as it brakes evenly and applies enough force, it'll pass.

The problem with brakes sticking is they usually get MUCH worse a few miles down the road.

konark

apeskin wrote: »

I did a little strip down. Starting with the guide rods. Took them out of the boot. Inspected those and spun the rotor.

Your front brakes are in the boot? Rotor?

Maybe a warped or badly seated disc, they're not expensive.

Richard53

I'd guess sticking piston/s in the caliper. Pads out, remove caliper without disconnecting brake pipe, carefully push piston/s out a little way, use brake cleaner and toothbrush to clean the piston sides (then a strip of cloth and polish to get them really clean). Use clamp to force them right back into the caliper, refit caliper and pads, pump brake to restore pressure.


If this doesn't fix it, you need a piston/seal kit or possibly a reconditioned caliper.