Took the car out this morning, drove about 5 miles, car felt just not quite right. Got the 'Check Tyre Pressure' warning come up and the TPM light, pulled over and got out to look, suspecting I had a wrecked tyre because as soon as I got out the car, the smell of burning was awful. Walked to my rear offside and my disc was bright orange and steaming badly. No tyres flat or anything.

Took the car to the garage and told them about it, told them it seems that the calliper is not letting go and sticking, to be met with the 'never had that issue ever before' which I sarcastically responded to as I know my girlfriends Fabia has been back there for that exact same reason.

Anyway, they kept the car, did a road test and found NOTHING wrong at all.

My question is, am I likely to have damaged the disc by letting it get cherry red hot? Should I replace the rear discs and pads as a precaution?

I have driven the car as slow speed and fast since getting it back and there appears to be no issue from the rear - warping or rubbing. Could it just have stuck as a one off? Either way I am going to keep an eye on it each time I use it.

If the disc doesn't feel warped when braking you may have got away with it

BUT

it will have cooked the grease in the wheel bearing, shortening its life somewhat.

Also, was it the caliper piston sticking or the handbrake cable sticking? You need to get to the root cause as it is likely to happen again if it was the caliper.

You could always get a friendly MOT station to stick it on the brake rollers and check for even braking force each side and make sure there are no fluctuations indicating a warped disc.

Could also be crud on the caliper's slider pins making the brakes stick on. If you can't pull the two halves of the caliper apart by hand, then the sliders are sticking.

Bit of an update on this one for you guys:

Issue happened again, with the disc getting hot but not glowing red like before. Decided to take the wheel off myself and see why the disc isn't as free as it should be with the handbrake off and low and behold it's the handbrake part. When the handbrake is released the arm that puts the brake on isn't moving back far enough hence the calliper sticking. It can be moved back by hand and the wheel spins freely.

Took it to the garage, and told them what the problem was, they looked and confirmed this then said it's covered by warranty. The only problems I have now is that the new calliper which they say is what is needed is on back order, so I am still using the car, but without using the handbrake. It's a DSG so parking it in P means it won't roll away, but annoying all the same.

Edited 12 January, 201313 yr by SJFISHER67

Definitely worth getting it sorted.

Had similar issue on primera gt a while back and the heat build up completely fried the ABS sensor. From that day on was never the same again. Replaced the sensor but issue kept arising every few months until, £2000 later, I gave up and got rid

Bit of an update on this one for you guys:

Issue happened again, with the disc getting hot but not glowing red like before. Decided to take the wheel off myself and see why the disc isn't as free as it should be with the handbrake off and low and behold it's the handbrake part. When the handbrake is released the arm that puts the brake on isn't moving back far enough hence the calliper sticking. It can be moved back by hand and the wheel spins freely.

Took it to the garage, and told them what the problem was, they looked and confirmed this then said it's covered by warranty. The only problems I have now is that the new calliper which they say is what is needed is on back order, so I am still using the car, but without using the handbrake. It's a DSG so parking it in P means it won't roll away, but annoying all the same.

Any news on this as I am having exactly the same problem with my Octy.

Had this on a Clio.

At least they can find a part to order. Renault denied they'd made a car to the spec I had but it was a weird end of line model. Diesel Megane engine and gearbox, with 182 wheels and brakes. Had to order direct from Bosch or Lucas in the end.

Update for you guys and gals...

Had calliper replaced under warranty... However upon collecting the car the handbrake took almost 5 clicks to hold the vehicle on a hill - whereas before it only took 2 or a maximum 3, this lasted a couple of days then the handbrake seemed to return to how it was before. All the time the handbrake was taking more clicks to hold the car, I checked the discs and they were about the same temp each time. But when I took the car to work on Monday the handbrake only took 1 click to hold it. Hmmm me thinks, lets check those discs, and low and behold the offside one (where the problem was before the calliper was changed) was scorching hot again!

So... Back to the dealer we go, today in fact, and yeah you have guessed it, they could find nothing wrong with it. I spoke to the 'mechanic' who told me that the car was within tollerances and the brake tester didn't show any issues. So I asked him if he was the guy who changed the calliper in the first place, which he confirmed. I then asked if it could have been the calliper pot adjusting / settling down because the handbrake was gradually taking less clicks to hold the car, he said no, as when he bled the brakes and checked the handbrake the pot would have self adjusted.

I then left and drove it back to work, when I got there I checked the discs at the rear, offside still hot with the nearside cool... This pi 55 ed me off royally, so when I left work and drove home - a distance of about 8 miles, i then get home and the offside disc is actually steaming! Garage closed by this time, so couldn't go straight back there.

I did however take a look at the handbrake cable and have loosened it slightly (under the rear centre console), checking the balancer and the cables which are moving easily so not an issue there, I have now adjusted it so it's now 4 - 5 clicks on the handbrake to hold it. Took the car for a test drive and it didn't get as hot but still warmer than I would have liked.

So my problem still remains it seems, could this be to do with the fact they didn't ratchet the handbrake enough when fitting the new calliper (helping the pot to adjust) and my handbrake cable has been just too tight all along? Or is there another avenue I need to explore?

If you can help, please tell me, as this is doing my nut in now, and the only real issue I have with an otherwise great car!

Did they replace the ABS sensor too?

If it got hot enough to activate the TPS then it must have been well cooked?

Did they replace the ABS sensor too?

If it got hot enough to activate the TPS then it must have been well cooked?

No just the calliper.

I guess if the TPM light went out then it'll be OK.

What's the chances though that the wheel bearing gets noisey just out of warranty!

My dealer told me when I asked them to adjust the handbrake (it now needs to pulled higher to hold the car) that it couldn't be done without servicing the rear brakes!

I guess if the TPM light went out then it'll be OK.

What's the chances though that the wheel bearing gets noisey just out of warranty!

My dealer told me when I asked them to adjust the handbrake (it now needs to pulled higher to hold the car) that it couldn't be done without servicing the rear brakes!

With reference to the wheel bearing, I'm expecting it already!

But the handbrake adjustment, I manage to adjust it in less than 5 minutes with a 90° 10mm ratchet, which I will carry in the car for the time being, and keep a close eye on the rear discs.

If I have found the route of the problem being something that simple, I will let it be known to the garage!

sorry to bring up an old thread again, but was this due to handbrake being too tight? im having this issue myself and havent got around to stripping the caliper yet...