Lifted the wheel up to try and find a puncture and as it was being turned there was a bit of resistance to turning it. It turned, but you couldn't say spin the wheel, let it go and watch it spin any amount without slowing.

So is this normal, or is this a sign the brakes are starting to bind.

I have 312mm brakes and am still getting 55-60mpg when sat at 65mph.

I hope I'm worrying about nothing here and it's just the national tyre fitter trying to drum up some business.

Thoughts appreciated.

If its a front wheel then there will be some resistance, because you are turning the driveshaft and some diff components.

Sure-fire way to test is to feel the disc temperatures (carefully!) after a run. A sticky brake will result in a VERY hot disc.

Rear wheel or front wheel ? The front's always have more drag due to it being a front wheel drive car.

D

If its a front wheel then there will be some resistance, because you are turning the driveshaft and some diff components.

Sure-fire way to test is to feel the disc temperatures (carefully!) after a run. A sticky brake will result in a VERY hot disc.

Rear wheel or front wheel ? The front's always have more drag due to it being a front wheel drive car.

D

That's what I thought and even though it was a front wheel in neutral, i did think it would still be dragging the whole drive train up to a certain point with it.

Thanks for confirming I'm not as mad as I sometimes feel Pretty much confirms that the guy was probably drumming up business.

As for the brakes, they get hot yes, but then they are used quite well towards the end of a journey. I would say that you wouldn't want to touch the brake disk itself but that the wheel / tyre in question is no hotter than any of the other three.

As for the brakes, they get hot yes, but then they are used quite well towards the end of a journey. I would say that you wouldn't want to touch the brake disk itself but that the wheel / tyre in question is no hotter than any of the other three.

Try pulling over on an uphill section of road so you can stop without using the brakes much - the temp will tell you whether they are dragging without you using them (but watch out for people behind you not realizing you are stopping).

As for the brakes, they get hot yes, but then they are used quite well towards the end of a journey. I would say that you wouldn't want to touch the brake disk itself but that the wheel / tyre in question is no hotter than any of the other three.

Even in neutral, when you turn the driveshaft you are turning quite a lot of the gearbox internals - there is fair amount of drag.

You need to compare the disc termperature with its opposite number on the other side of the car. You can't compare front and rear disc temperatures because they can be quite different.

You can feel the disc itself if you are carefull. Feel the wheel, near the centre, and then the disc where the wheel mounts on - obviously do it 'gingerly'!. Personally I use an accurate IR-thermometer with laser pointer, they are useful for all sorts of automotive diagnostics, including identifying bad bearings and cooling system faults.

On the rare occasions I have had binding brakes, it's only ever been on one wheel and after a drive, it's quite obvious which one is binding because of the heat given off. In general, you probably wouldn't notice a binding brake while driving, it's when you slow to a stop at a junction etc. and you will feel the car stop more suddenly than normal, if you de-clutch and coast for the last few yards it's really noticeable. Start stop traffic is also where it's really noticeable.

D