Technical Poor braking on Panda 4x4

[pandamaniac]

Sounds to me like the caliper pistons are seizing in the pushed out position when you push the pedal down.

I had a similar problem and it overheated the discs and delaminated the pad braking material from the backing plates.

I took the pads out and poured brake fluid into the back of the dust seals, then forced the pads out by pushing the pedal down and then using a large set of water pump pliers pushed the pistons back in and out until they were totally free.

Problem solved.

Pandamaniac

 

[s5jst]

Well I checked the pistons and they look good and are not rusty. They also run free. If free is normal for hard pushing them back in. Because of this I decided not to change them (they are quite expensive ~60€/pair+seals).

 

[pandamaniac]

Mark.

Pushing them in and out should be easy, not hard.
If it is hard to push them back in use a 'G' clamp, but just keep lubricating the pistons when in the pushed out position and repeat until they move easily in and out.

Regards David
Pandamaniac

 

[BenW]

They'll be easier to move in and out with the cap off the brake fluid resevoir so probably best try pushing them in with the cap off

 

[pandamaniac]

Duh.
Dorry I forgot to metion that.
Must have been working too hard at the time!

Pandamaniac

 

[s5jst]

So this means only one...get on your knees

Both rubber washers looks quite abused. This should be just the right time to change them also.