brakes binding

**Al 22 dti** · 13th May 2011, 18:16

ok.. i left work the other night and thought id give the old girl a little bit of stick so i belted the arse off it for a good 9 mile home... erm all on private roads of course!..

then i came into the village and slowed down but noticed it wasnt driving right but i carried on... then i come to some lights and as i began to stop but the car sort of stopped its self in a way that id not noticed before...

then i drove off and thought to myself that its taking a bit more effort than usual and i thought i might have a flat so i pulled over...

it was then ( as it was dark) that i noticed the rear off side brake disk glowing like a 3 bar fire and smelling like holy hell so i checked the other side to find the same thing.... the rear brakes had been binding on but iv no idea why..

its never happened before in the time iv had the car and its even drove pretty well today while iv been out because iv stopped a few times to check the breaks and im at a loss as to why it did it?

could it be rubbish brake pads expanding with the heat and binding( as the pads were changed before i bought it), or could the handbrake be just that bit too tight and with me giving it some, its started to bind?

all thoughts welcome

al.

**Al 22 dti** · 14th May 2011, 08:46

anyone?

**ed taylor** · 14th May 2011, 08:54

As it was both sides could the hand brake be sticking. It is unusual for both calipers to seize at the same time. Not sure about "cheap" pads, but I would have thought they would not be causing the problem. How does the car drive when it is cold. Do the rear wheels spin freely. Might be a good idea to jack it up and see how the wheels tur, do they sin easily or not.

**GARY3306** · 14th May 2011, 09:01

More likely if its both at the same time, that the inner cable is seized within the outer. If it was a caliper fault, it would just be the effected side with the portable fire.

You're gonna have to get the wheels off and have a look at whats going on. Ideally on a ramp. You're gonna need new pads and discs for a start but I suspect you're gonna need a cable too

**Al 22 dti** · 14th May 2011, 09:04

AFAIK, it runs perfect when cold and im able to push the car my self..

can the brake cable to too tight as it begins to stop the car on the first click?

al.

**Al 22 dti** · 14th May 2011, 10:04

ok... iv just been out having a look at the car again and id say that the handbrake it too tight.

it stops the car on the first click and almost locks the wheels on the second click( i was on grass)...

now id say it was too tight and possibly what was causing the binding the other night..

how do i loosen the cable?

al.

**ed taylor** · 14th May 2011, 10:45

How long have you had the new pads. I would say they did not follow the correct procedure in fitting them.?.
What I would do is remove them. Wind the piston all the way back in then out again, Thus "loosing" the setting it has now. "oh" make sure the handbrake is off, daft suggestion I know but still).
Then put the pads back in. Obviously do this to both sides.
Then press the footbrake NOT the handbrake yet!!.
This will take up all the "play" in the pads.
If you pull the handbrake first you will use up all the pad "travel" and had no adjustment.
I am wondering if the handbrake was pulled on first when the new pads were fitted, and then when the footbrake pressed it managed to take the pads in a little more causing the handbrake to "stick" as it was now too tight.?.

**Derek Mc** · 14th May 2011, 11:12

Very good explanation there, I know it is around in posts and how2's but a reminder is of huge value

**Al 22 dti** · 14th May 2011, 11:23

cheers ed, the pads have been in a couple of months afaik.

the lad that had the car before me had them done.

i think il have them to bits this weekend and get them sorted just to be safe

thanks all

al.

**alcutler** · 14th May 2011, 21:43

Originally Posted by Al 22 dti

cheers ed, the pads have been in a couple of months afaik.

the lad that had the car before me had them done.

i think il have them to bits this weekend and get them sorted just to be safe

thanks all

al.

Make sure you disconnect the hand brake cables and check that the levers on the rear calipers are free to move and not seized and the return springs are in place and pulling the levers back to the off posistion.