The rear discs on my Cross have looked very heavily corroded for a while, so today I stripped everything down and fitted new pads and discs. The pads on the driver's side were worn almost down to the metal but on the passenger's side there was plenty of friction material left. I had noticed that the centre of the driver's side wheel was rather warm after a journey which was consistent with the over-use of the pads on that side (I say this rather than under-use on the passenger side since the discs and pads had only been in place for just over 12,000 miles).
However, nothing was seized at the strip-down and the calipers seemed to be in good order so I have put everything back together after a good clean, naturally with new pads and discs. I also bled the entire braking system with new brake fluid.
Now, after a short run in town, so moderate braking, the driver's side disc is hotter than the passenger's side. So the possibilities are

1. Driver's side is binding. Against this the car accelerates well and fuel economy is as expected. However I will not rule out a faulty caliper or brake flexi (a "one-way valve" effect can occur).

2. Passenger's side is not braking sufficiently. However braking is taking place on that side as the disc is warming and showing evidence of pad contact across the whole braking surface.

3. Some electro-mechanical problem with the ABS or virtual LSD (limited-slip diff) functions leading to imbalanced brake application.

MOT soon but this imbalance may not even be detected as Panda 4x4s cannot have their brakes tested on the rollers but a road test is used instead with a deceloremeter called a Tapley being used. OK, I might get through the MOT but I want a solution to the brake problem.

Sorry about the long and wordy post, just wandering if another 4x4 or 100HP has had this problem.

are they the same rear brakes as the 1.2 4x4? If so they're well renowned for picking up crap in the reaction frames in 1.4 500's and on Abarths

Yes, same as 4x4 Climbing.
Pressure washer around the back of the hubs then?

doctorchris said:

Yes, same as 4x4 Climbing.
Pressure washer around the back of the hubs then?

Click to expand...

No no no! Basically it's the reaction frames corroding.

Disassemble, clean out any crud, grease where necessary, replace pads ands jobs a good 'un

An update.
Now the new rear pads and discs are settled in and particularly after my Italian tune up for the turbo problem both rear discs seem to be at the same temperature after a run, suggesting no brake imbalance now.
Will see what the MOT shows.
Almost all the problems I have with my Panda Cross relate to corrosion and/or a careful, relaxed and economical driving style.

doctorchris said:

An update.
Now the new rear pads and discs are settled in and particularly after my Italian tune up for the turbo problem both rear discs seem to be at the same temperature after a run, suggesting no brake imbalance now.
Will see what the MOT shows.
Almost all the problems I have with my Panda Cross relate to corrosion and/or a careful, relaxed and economical driving style.

Click to expand...

Corrosion on the calipers of Panda's and 500's seems to be an Achilles heal sadly! But it's hardly the worst fault in the world.

Odd thing - I decided to swap wheels back to-front same side, rather than replace the tyres just yet. 100Hp now has a little more steering perk again - plus luckily the 'rear' wheels didn't need balancing.

This gave me a chance to inspect the brakes. Ok, it's only done 8500 miles, but it lives outside all year. So, all well and clean but what surprised me most was the red painted calipers (Pandamonium pack) - the paint is still mint and shiny with no flaking.

Hands up those who used to own an Alfasud and feared having to unseize the rear disks and prayed that they never had to go near the inboard front ones! Driveshaft off to changes disks........what a pain!

AB100 said:

Odd thing - I decided to swap wheels back to-front same side, rather than replace the tyres just yet. 100Hp now has a little more steering perk again - plus luckily the 'rear' wheels didn't need balancing.

This gave me a chance to inspect the brakes. Ok, it's only done 8500 miles, but it lives outside all year. So, all well and clean but what surprised me most was the red painted calipers (Pandamonium pack) - the paint is still mint and shiny with no flaking.

Hands up those who used to own an Alfasud and feared having to unseize the rear disks and prayed that they never had to go near the inboard front ones! Driveshaft off to changes disks........what a pain!

Click to expand...

Back in the day done loads of front alfa sud pads, setting them with a 10 thow (spelling) gap, even changed h/brake cables, try doing that, on a course was told to remove engine to replace h/brake cable.

Aaah the Alfasud handbrake cable yes - fear if that went. That said, it made tha car handy in snow cos you could pull the old SAAB trick - stick the handbrake on a few clicks and trick the diff into driving both wheels.

I am happier now - no more hunting round for old friged to supply the annual sill welds........