Had a rear brake caliper seize up on me this morning. Pulled up and the wheel were smoking.

I called the RAC who confirmed this had seized and we discovered it were seizing when I were pulling the handbrake. He sprayed some WD40 on the area and worked it loose, which now is no longer seizing.

My question is, do you think this will seize again? I cant see how spraying a little WD40 will fit the issue long term and I certainly don't want the issue to happen to me again when travelling far distance.

Should I get this replaced?

Mine siezed a whiles ago... travelled a few miles along a ring road for a few miles and could smell the burning in the car so pulled over...

I put on a VW Sharan helper spring and not had it happen since. Don't know if it would be better to replace, but the helper spring has stopped it doing it again so I've not spend the £100+ for a new calliper, just the £5 odd from Ebay.

I had this happen on an Alhambra and WD40 would only cure it for a week or two. Think the only long-term cure is a new caliper

My rear caliper seized a few years ago. Its never been right since. I've had to remove it & clean it & wack half a bottle of WD40 in the hand brake lever arm bore to keep it moving several times. However, over the past few weeks its started to stick again (hand brake lever looses its tension). So its coming off as soon as the weather improves & I'm putting a second hand one that I've picked up of ebay.

btw - springs are fitted to the lever arm.

Edited 8 March, 201313 yr by Chris Berry

Yeah I might ask Skoda to replace it in that case.

usually it's the piston to caliper seal which goes old and hard with age and heat.................this then does not allow the piston the retract fully.......................strip down piston/caliper and fit new dust skirt and seals.do both sides.

Did both front and rear calipers on my car total cost about £35 for seals & dust skirts.............and several hours to do the work , sand/polish the pistons, hone the bores, fit the seals/pistons, dust skirts etc, and re-bleed the brake fluid.....

usually it's the piston to caliper seal which goes old and hard with age and heat.................this then does not allow the piston the retract fully.......................strip down piston/caliper and fit new dust skirt and seals.do both sides.

Did both front and rear calipers on my car total cost about £35 for seals & dust skirts.............and several hours to do the work , sand/polish the pistons, hone the bores, fit the seals/pistons, dust skirts etc, and re-bleed the brake fluid.....

Wish i knew what you were on about and have the confidence to do it but seen as I don't it looks like I will be getting a replacement sadly.

Something similar happened to me last month when I had my MOT test, my rear calliper was seized open and wouldn't spring closed when the handbrake was released. I decided to buy a new brake calliper in the end as I couldn't justify the labour cost required to rebuild the 8 year old calliper. The VW Specialists said that he's seen a couple like it and over time the part has a tendency to seize up and is a common problem.

Something similar happened to me last month when I had my MOT test, my rear calliper was seized open and wouldn't spring closed when the handbrake was released. I decided to buy a new brake calliper in the end as I couldn't justify the labour cost required to rebuild the 8 year old calliper. The VW Specialists said that he's seen a couple like it and over time the part has a tendency to seize up and is a common problem.

Where did you buy yours from?

The garage ordered it for me through their suppliers, think it was £105 for the standard green painted part. The same part is available from other vag cars painted silver and is around £65, which is the one I regret buying, however saves me spending time painting it and finding a colour match with the others.

Here's a link for ya, scroll down a bit and you'll see the two kinds available:

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/fabiabrakes.php

Jesus... Found them on EuroCar Parts.- Expensive!

http://www.eurocarpa...34398da7

My question is though, which may sound silly to some but seems OK to me - Would i buy Rear left or Rear right? The one that is sticking is the rear passengers.

I suppose it depends which end of the car you are looking at to if it is left or right.

Check the part numbers:

Rear UK Passenger side is - 6Y0615423

Rear UK Driver side is - 6Y0615424

..Just had a look on your link it doesn't state the vag part numbers, I assume it'll be in relation to you sitting in the car but best ring them up and check.

Check the part numbers:

Rear UK Passenger side is - 6Y0615423

Rear UK Driver side is - 6Y0615424

Thanks bud

Which ones seized? I have a good NS one here

Which ones seized? I have a good NS one here

Yeah its the passengers back one. I would make you an offer for it if I knew how to fit it but seen as I don't then it looks like Skoda will be doing it, which I don't think they would allow me to hand them a second hand part?