Can anyone help?

My uncle's cinq sporting's f/n'side brake binds. This seems to only happen when I'm driving it. It gets so hot that the actual alloy wheel is as hot as an iron and there's a burning smell. The brakes have been replaced quite a few times over the years with new discs added recently. My uncle never has this problem when he drives so I dont know if its me or just bad luck. In fact everytime something goes wrong it's me who's driving.

Anyway, my uncle thinks its the way I use the pedals that is doing it. I think he said it might be because I use lift up my foot of the brakes too quickly that the master cylander keeps the brakes on or something like that. I have tried to change how I drive from using the brakes more slowly to almost not using them at all, but it still binds when I drive.

Yesterday I had to call my uncle from teh motorway because the wheel was so hot, I pured some cold water on it to cool it down but when he came out the wheel was cold and he followed me home. The brakes didnt bind or heat up at all and I looked a tosser for calling him out.

In fact everything goes wrong with the car when I'm driving it and my uncle's not there. It's all sweet and honest with my uncle but its a nasty piece of trouble when he's not around and its just me and it.

My uncle's planning to sell the car since its cost so much money in repairs (since I've been co-driver). But before its gone, I would like to feel safe in it without the fear that the heat would cause a blow out or something.

any advice or anything would be welcomed.

Are the brake pads wearing evenly. It sounds like the caliper is sticking, which is not that uncommon.

Cheers

D

Thanks for the reply. When the brake discs were changed a few months back both pads were changed aswell, so I guess so. Anyway to unstick the caliper?

thanks

Jamie

mugatea said:

Thanks for the reply. When the brake discs were changed a few months back both pads were changed aswell, so I guess so. Anyway to unstick the caliper?

thanks

Jamie

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Make sure the slides are free of any corrosion build up, and use copper grease.

Cheers

D

Providing you have some experience, then take everything apart, clean and re-fit at the bare minimum. If any parts are worn then replace them.

As has already been mentioned...pouring cold water on something hot will only do damage.

Good luck sorting it out and hope your uncle doesn't sell for the sake of it !

thanks for the advice. I'll try to fix it monday and wont pour any more water on it.

cheers!

jamie

ok, me and my uncle had a look at the caliper and disk today. Everything is new and all looks ok. But it's a tight fit for the break pads against the disk and my uncle thinks that's cause it's new. But still it has really overheated to the point of smoking.

Should I ignore it and let it sort itself out? What should I do if it gets too hot again? I'm driving to my sisters tonight and thats 30 miles each way.

I'm gonna remember my AA card just in case.

jamie

You sure they're the right ones?

mugatea said:

ok, me and my uncle had a look at the caliper and disk today. Everything is new and all looks ok. But it's a tight fit for the break pads against the disk and my uncle thinks that's cause it's new. But still it has really overheated to the point of smoking.

Should I ignore it and let it sort itself out? What should I do if it gets too hot again? I'm driving to my sisters tonight and thats 30 miles each way.

I'm gonna remember my AA card just in case.

jamie

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They should not be tight even when new. Either the caliper piston is not rectracting fully, or the pads are jammed at either end by a build up of carp.

With the caliper out of its mount gently press on the brake pedal until you can see the outside edge of the piston fully. Don't press too hard or the piston will be on the floor and the fluid all over your Levis.

The piston should be smooth and shiny, if not, and this will have some people on here holding their hands up in horror, take some emery cloth and remove the corrosion. Some duck oil will help. Then push the piston back all the way.

Remove the pads from the caliper mount and take a wire brush to the parts where the pads are located. Wearing goggles would be a good idea too as bits of said carp will fly everywhere.

Apply a small quantity of coppaslip to the edges of the pads and refit into the mount. They should slip in easily. Apply more coppaslip to the piston and to the two fingers on the outer edge of the caliper and slip it back on. Again should not need any force.

Make sure you pump the pedal after both sides have been done, then release the pedal and check that you can rotate the discs by hand.

Cheers

D

well, after looking at it the other day it seems to be working just fine. Done over 100 miles with no probs. In fact there i've noticed a big difference in how quiet the car is now. funny. anywayz, my uncle is selling the car so if you live in renfrewshire check out the classifieds.

thanks for the help

jamie

mugatea said:

funny. anywayz, my uncle is selling the car so if you live in renfrewshire check out the classifieds.

thanks for the help

jamie

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I did, and I saw nadda,

cheers

D