Technical Sticky front brake - caliper?

[thooms]

Hmm. Had an annoying issue with the Panda lately, where the front right brake appears to be sticking.

Things were a bit grimy in there, so I pulled everything apart and reassembled with lashings of copper grease. Twice. Everything was moving smoothly (I thought) - but I went for a quick cruise this morning without using the front brakes for a couple of miles, and the disc was still getting hot.

Bah!

I'm 95% sure the pads aren't sticking anymore, so am I looking at a dodgy caliper? Any other suggestions?

Hmm. If it is a caliper, where'd be a good place to get one?

Thanks all

 

[andyholli]

Collapsing brake flexible pipe.
If doing one, check if others appear to be the same vintage and save multiple messy bleeding sessions.

 

[portland_bill]

Had this happen, a long time ago when I had a classic Panda. Caliper piston seized, overheated wheel bearings, CV joint and distorted the disc.
Had it happen again on a later car but caught it in time.

With caliper off, squeeze the piston all the way back in, loosening the bleed nipple helps rather than pushing the fluid back up to overflow the master cylinder. May need a G-clamp to assist, but make sure it pushes square, so piston does not tilt and jam. Then push brake pedal to push piston back out, but not too far. Repeat a few times. This worked for me, caliper carried on for many years after that.

Make sure the sliders are clean and smooth. New wedges used to be available and are worth replacing.

 

[pandamonius_maximus]

All my pandas have had this at at some point. The calipers just reach that point and either got to refurb or replace the caliper. They're not expensive, on ebay usually between £15 to £30 each.

Do it sooner than later though, as it can (as has been mentioned already) ruin other things...might have already glazed your pads and boiled your brake fluid so some fresh stuff might be a good idea as well.

 

[thooms]

Thanks folks - it's not overly severe at the moment I don't think, nothing seems to be getting insanely hot. Interesting thought about the collapsing hose, I hadn't thought of that.

I'll just change the caliper - it's always going to be giving grief otherwise!

portland_bill - good thought on doing that with the piston, I'll do that tomorrow and see if that fixes it temporarily. That way I won't have to cycle to work if it's chucking it down, at least

 

[Alixcompo]

The repair is just time, no parts required.
If you pump the caliper piston right out and take the rubber seal out of its groove then you will fine all manner of cr*p underneath it.

Clean this out; reassemble and "Job's a good'un"

Faster to say than do though.

 

[Giacosa]

All my pandas have had this at at some point. The calipers just reach that point and either got to refurb or replace the caliper. They're not expensive, on ebay usually between £15 to £30 each.

Do it sooner than later though, as it can (as has been mentioned already) ruin other things...might have already glazed your pads and boiled your brake fluid so some fresh stuff might be a good idea as well.

:yeahthat:

One of the facts of life of Panda/Y10 ownership. I just replace them now with another cheap one off ebay. It's usually cheaper than the xchange route from a motorfactor and exactly the same remanufactured unit.

 

[thooms]

That's a thought, Alixcompo. I need to pick up some more brake fluid, but that could be worth a go.

Hmm - took all the stuff off again today, got everything surgically clean. Caliper moves freely(ish - firm thumb pressure) on the wedges, and the pads aren't sticking.

The piston looks good (no gouges / corrosion) and again, moves freely when gently encouraged with a clamp.

Something's still not happy though, everything's as it was before.

I'll probably buy a replacement as I'm lazy and want to get the other car done ASAP - thanks for the suggestions!