Im getting a bit confused here. Both rear calipers (on the Polo) have been replaced as the handbrake was binding. I've fitted the return springs, too, on the old and new calipers. This was about 6 months ago. Yesterday when I changed the winter wheels for the summer ones I noticed one wheel was a bit stiff to turn. Argh! Any ideas on what to check/try?

Handbrake cable adjustment causing it to not release fully, a possibility if both sides affected.

Checked that, both sides are fully returning to the stops and the cable is loose when the lever is fully down.

Could it be the slide pins sticking? I think they weren't changed when the calipers were.

I haven't actually checked if the wheel is getting hot when driven, will do so next time it goes somewhere.

mine did something similar ... it was the seals that were getting hard i pulled the boot back on the caliper piston sprayed some wd40 in pushed the piston in and out a couple of times and the prob disappeared. i have a feeling its starting to return about 8 months later though ....

Check the sliders are nice and free first.

Then take the cable off the caliper and put some mole grips on it. Get a friend in the car to pull the handbrake on and off while you pull the mole grips, this will check the cable is nice and free.

Check the pads arnt a really tight fit in the carrier also, I normally sand the painted edge off the pads where the contact points are so they fit in nice and free then apply some 'bosh super fit grease' to keep them nice and free.

So... If all the above is done we now know that..

- The pads are nice and free

- The caple operates how it should

- The caliper can move nice and free

If they don't release after that you've for yourself a pair of knackerd calipers!

Well, I don't think it's the brakes. After a drive on the motorway the wheels were cold. Could it be the bearing? I don't have any other bearing symptoms like noise or wobble, but they have got 115k on them!

Well, I don't think it's the brakes. After a drive on the motorway the wheels were cold. Could it be the bearing? I don't have any other bearing symptoms like noise or wobble, but they have got 115k on them!

the wheels would stay cold even if the brakes were sticking ? the discs would get hot ....

The heat gets conducted from the (metal) discs to the (metal) hubs to the (metal) wheels. It's nowhere near as hot as the brake discs are, but a binding brake at motorway speeds should at least make the wheel warm to the touch. When mine got stuck on the motorway I arrived at my destination with smoking pads (couldn't see the smoke as I was doing 70 so as fast as it was coming off it was dissipating) and a wheel which I could hardly touch with bare hands.

If the calipers are sticking on the wheel will be very hot to the touch, it will also have a burning smell.

Sorry, to clarify I don't think its the brakes anymore. The brakes were sticking, there was the burning smell and the wheel was really hot. This was on both sides to varying degrees so the rear calipers were changed. Now, one wheel is again stiff to turn, but the brakes aren't getting hot. I could comfortably touch the caliper after driving and both sides were equally cool.

Sorry, to clarify I don't think its the brakes anymore. The brakes were sticking, there was the burning smell and the wheel was really hot. This was on both sides to varying degrees so the rear calipers were changed. Now, one wheel is again stiff to turn, but the brakes aren't getting hot. I could comfortably touch the caliper after driving and both sides were equally cool.

daft question but your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure arent they ?

Yeah, I check them regularly. But how would that make the wheel stiff to turn?

Yeah, I check them regularly. But how would that make the wheel stiff to turn?

it wouldnt but i was thinking it would increase the tyre / wheel temps if the pressures are too low

Take the caliper off or try and push the pads back a little (it's rear calipers so won't force back much) but should still move back a little.

Does the wheel spin nice and free with the brakes pushed back?

If the rear wheel is tight to turn with the brakes pushed off the only thing it can be is wheel bearing.

To check for a wheel bearing failing, hold the wheel at 12 and 6 and push/pull opposite sides and feel for any play or movement in the wheel. If there's any movement the wheel bearing is damaged.

To check for a wheel bearing failing, hold the wheel at 12 and 6 and push/pull opposite sides and feel for any play or movement in the wheel. If there's any movement the wheel bearing is damaged.

I don't know whether my experience of bearings applies here, but when a front bearing on my old Leon (Golf Mk4 platform) went, there was no play in the wheel at all. The only way the guy could diagnose it was lift the front end and spin each wheel as fast as he could by hand and listen out for the rumbling. He said it's not uncommon for modern VAG bearings to have no play until your wheel is practically ready to fall off, mine wasn't the first. So as another test if you don't have any play, try chocking one side, taking the handbrake off, and spinning the wheel to see if you hear any odd noises as this still may help you find a bearing problem.

Thanks all. Its weird. Theres no heat issue, I can touch the caliper after driving it and both sides are the same temperature. Theres no play when wiggling it as suggested. Its worth me putting it out there that this wheel was the one that got so hot (when the brakes were binding before being changed) that I noticed it by walking past the car and it felt like walking past a heater. Would that have cooked the bearing?

Worth checking the bearing - it could have cooked. I've just changed my front hubs (Fabia) and the only sign was noise ; no detectable movement.

Oh yes . missed from above. When you had the original problem, were the discs changed - thinking warped discs if not?

Thanks. The binding (and caliper replacement) was over 6 months ago, they don't feel warped when braking. Its good to hear other people have had bad bearings without the normal movement. I'll look to get that bearing replaced. Any idea on a rough guide price for it?