Technical Front brakes

[Peterg]

Hi Guys
I changed my front pads a few months ago which resulted in a lot better braking.
However recently the front brakes have started to bind in that the come on when I reverse and turn .
Sounds like a the calipers are seizing up and not releasing.
Can anyone tell me what I need to sort it out as they are now dragging which is not good news for mpg and the pads.
Thanks
Pete

 

[M@nticore]

is it definatly from the front,normal causes could be calipers or master cylinder fault. or your handbrake shoes are not releasing or brakefluid is leaking on them which would cause it to bind.

 

[Louie Bee]

This is one I learned from Chas

The locking plates and calliper holding bracket rust. Each time you change the pads, you should wire brush the plates and sliding faces of the brackets till they are shiny. Apply copper grease sparingly and the callipers can slide freely. The MK1 Bianca had excellent brakes .

If you did the above steps Peter, and still suspect the callipers, Shop4parts.co.uk supplied me with Uno callipers for about a third of FIAT price. Don’t think they were listed on their website but e-mail them for a quote .

 

[Peterg]

Cheers guys taken on your advice will get the car jacked up once the snow melts lol
Pete

 

[phil_harry]

I had this exact problem a few years ago with my uno, was made a lot worse by the cold weather. I know it's a long time ago, but here is the thread, it may be of interest

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=6884&highlight=sticky+brakes

 

[Peterg]

Thanks Phil
That link was excellent just what I needed.
Will buy gallons of copper grease and just dunk the whole car in it lol.
Cheers
Pete

 

[alexGS]

Brakes coming on when reversing and turning - something a bit strange there, I agree with Louie to check the caliper slides etc. first. They're not very suitable for the UK climate. Newer cars have pins with rubber boots to keep the grease in.

However if you're still getting problems with the brakes coming on by themselves, it is just possible to have a blocked/restricted brake hose (tends to affect brake on one side only, brake goes on as pressure squeezes through but does not release) or the brake servo pushrod protrusion (tongue-twister ) may be wrong - this can be as simple as the brake pedal not returning to the correct height.

On balance, it's probably corrosion-related...

-Alex

 

[Chas Uno]

Just to add to what has already been posted, binding brakes can also be caused by the pistons in the caliper gumming up. This is often caused by the piston gaitors perishing and allowing muck to come into contact with the piston surfaces.

If you are lucky, you can pop the piston out of the caliper and give it a good clean. Using a polish such as Autosol can work wonders here. However, if the pistons have rusted and pitted, then the caliper is pretty much scrap.

On my Uno a good clean of the pistons and making sure the sliding plates were clean made the brakes much better. On Louie's Bianca, the pistons were in a terrible state! Luckily Louie fitted new calipers, so once the plates had been cleaned up and greased liberally the brakes were fine.

Attached is a picture of Bianca's old caliper showing why the brakes were awful!

 

[Louie Bee]

Cheers Chas .

I forgot to mention the state of the callipers, and reason for me getting new ones . Rotten old callipers

Just to add – It was Chas who fitted the new callipers and brake front flexi hoses to Bianca. I was too worried about the flexi to rigid hose nuts getting rounded to have a go .

That reminds me, I’m still owed a nearly new pair of front callipers back from Bianca . Wonder how she’s getting on :chin:.

 

[(CZ)enda]

To what was said already:
There is a repair set available for the front brakes. If I remember right, it includes the gaiter, O-ring and a bleed screw with a rubber cap. The piston itself is also available as a spare part.
However, it is also a good idea to measure the brake disc thickness while the caliper is removed. Once the brake disc is worn under some 9 mm, the brakes can bind even if the caliper/pads are OK.
It is rather annoying to disassemble/clean/renew/reassemble the caliper only to find out that brakes bind again because of worn disc... believe me

 

[Peterg]

Going to get the car up on a jack tommorow and have a look at the calipers.
Alex like u say only one brake is coming on so could be the hose pipe will keep u all updated.
Pete

 

[(CZ)enda]

Just to update the well of wisdom about front calipers ...
The repair set from Frenkit (Spanish, I believe) is about 2.50 Euro and it does not include the bleed screw, which you have to buy separately (0.75 Euro).
Greedy b*****s .
The caliper renewal is NOT a pleasant experience when it is 5 below zero and one does not have a warm garage :yuck:, only a workshop.