Just a quickie question really.

Sister has a MK1 MX5, and today noticed a grinding sound from the front right wheel. It looks like the brakes are binding, because the noise continues quietly when driving off. Had a look this evening and it looks like the inner pad may have gone down to the metal. After driving the front right wheel is very hot compared to the other 3 wheels.

She did comment that the range on a tank has recently decreased, so it may have been going on for sometime and the 250 mile drive today may have been the final straw.

Hopefully all she will need is new pads, disk doesnt seem that bad. But what can be done to free the caliper and stop it seizing again. The car is about to be taken off the road for short periods so she is keen to stop this happening again.

I've seen a mechanic take it off and hit a caliper to make it move back a bit then push it out and clean it all up lubricate it and put it back.

If you're going to DIY I'd guess that a new calliper might be easier and cheaper in terms of time too.

To be fair if that's happened I'd probably do both sets of pads and front discs and inspect the callipers plus brake cleaner and lube them at the same time.

Well, she is now £300 lighter. The car needed new disks/pads and a new caliper, but at least the brakes now work properly.

Ouch

Was a service kit for the caliper not an option?

I think the caliper was to badly corroded, her car has nearly 100K miles on the clock.