Hi All

I have just noticed that my front drivers side alloy is roasting hot after I have driven my car, is this a problem with the brakes?

Cheers

Graeme

Sounds like it, maybe the caliper is sticking?

is that something that i can fix myself? ...though I know very little about cars.

It certainly sounds like a sticky caliper .

If your not confident or do not have much car knowledge you would be better not messing about with brakes as caliper will need to be removed and a recon caliper fitted which means bleeding brakes .

Get help .

Regards whoosh

It could also be the brakes just needing some general attention.

I just replaced my discs and pads and the brake pad carriers etc were all pretty rusted up so had made it a tight squeeze for the pads and preventing any real movement. They were squeeling and squeeking pretty bad and were getting very hot. They smelled like burning brakes if I travelled at speed.

I cleaned it all up with a wire brush, put plenty of copper grease everywhere, put the new discs and pads in and put it all together. Working good now with no squeels, squeeks or hot brakes!

Might be worth just taking the wheel off and having a look so you know what you're dealing with.

Phil

Could it not be the bearing? Surely if it were the brake then it'd be pulling to the right?

I have jacked the car up,and the wheel spins freely, ..BUT if I then press the footbrake pedal then spin the wheel there is definite rubbing noise

As Rob said, you can't rule the possibility of a bearing out

If it spins freely with out rubbing then in my mind I wouldn't suspect the brakes, even if they do rub after application because under normal driving conditions the movement would surly throw the pads away from the disc?

When the Bearings went on my last fabia the guy I had fix / look at them told me that one of the ways you could easily identify which side it was on was to feel for a warm wheel..

Have you noticed any kind of whine / droan when at higher speed? Because this is another sign of a dyeing bearing.. as it deteriorates the noise will become present at lower and lower speeds all the way down to 30.

I'm not a mechanic, so I'm clueless, but it just feels like a sticking brake would cause more issues?

could just be warm due to alot of heavy/sharp breaking if you've been horsing the car on for a period of time

Mine does the same on a Furby VRS 2004. I have been through a lot of pain to try to solve it. It came to a head on Tuesday when I lifted my foot from the accelerator and almost headbutted the steering wheel due to excessive caliper drag.

I had the brakes looked at by my local friendly non franchise VAG garage. The diagnosis was a sticking piston, so I sourced a second hand caliper and fitted that. The pads on the right wheel were a lot more worn than those on the left. I then was alright for a few days, but the brake started squeaking and rubbing again. I went back to my garage and they said it's likely due to uneven pad wear between the sides, so I then replaced the pads and discs to be sure. Unfortunately it happened again...... :(

In the course of replacing the pads and discs I thoroughly cleaned the carrier on that side.

I'm at a loss and it's really affecting my MPG's. I'm lucky if I get 40mpg on the drive home (Driving Miss Daisy style!)

Next port of call is to fit a 312mm set up - apparently the carrier/caliper interface is a completely different kettle of fish, so the problem shouldn't re-occur........

Well, I took the plunge and bought the Ebay reconditioned calipers carriers discs and pads set. To say I'm impressed is an understatement! Really good quality bits. The pads and discs are EBC items that are excellent quality.

As to the problem of the hot alloy, it has gone. The swap from the standard set up to the 312mm kit has had a dramatic effect on the MPG (improving it as the pads are no longer rubbing) and, though I haven't used the brakes in anger yet (still bedding in) I can still feel that they are a big improvement over standard

Happy bunny

Well, I took the plunge and bought the Ebay reconditioned calipers carriers discs and pads set. To say I'm impressed is an understatement! Really good quality bits. The pads and discs are EBC items that are excellent quality.

As to the problem of the hot alloy, it has gone. The swap from the standard set up to the 312mm kit has had a dramatic effect on the MPG (improving it as the pads are no longer rubbing) and, though I haven't used the brakes in anger yet (still bedding in) I can still feel that they are a big improvement over standard

Happy bunny

I'm still bedding my 312s in too.

Only done about 60 miles since they were fitted.

Been out and about in the van mostly just of late.

Work work work.

Yep!....had my passenger side brake caliper stick on me a few months back..alloy was a bit warm.. ........I just stripped the caliper down and fitted new seals, and dust skirts £15 for the front set (both sides).......ended up doing the whole car back and front as I fitted new discs and pads all round...EBC 3GD grooved/dimpled discs and Greenstuff pads (second set)...all better....much better MPG....and no HOT alloys!