My near side rear brake callipers seized momentarily today and got incredibly hot and smokey.

The issue appears to have rectified itself now (the caliper is unstick and appears to be working fine) but the car is still under warranty so I will be getting it looked at.

Realistically though, what damage could have been caused to the brake caliper, disk, pads and possibly brake fluid with the brakes overheating like that?

Thanks in advance for any input.

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I'm sure that you could panic and justify replacing everything, but, in reality, you will not be the first to have had this happen, now what action do you think a warranty claims department will advise, I reckon, "check that its okay" will be all - and that is not a clearly defined action. Any proper garage should take on board what has happened and take the calliper and pads out, clean them up and if the pads are still usable (enough friction material still left) and reassemble, maybe for good measure they would clean up the other side to "balance up" the rear brakes.

Thanks for the reply. That is exactly what I'd expect from a warranty "check". Thing is the rear discs and pads were pretty much brand new when I bought the car. I'll let them have a look and see what they say. Always a problem with warranties, I'd sooner strip the calliper down and sort it myself but if it is something more terminal I don't want them saying I caused it.

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This seems to happen all the time.

 

You should buy some caliper springs they should sort it.

 

Have a search there are a load of threads on this.

This happened to me last year. Fitted the VW Sharan caliper return springs and not had a problem since. Chatted to my mechanic about it and be reckoned all would be ok.

Yes was reading up on that while the Mrs was in Asda earlier. I've got some new centre caps for the alloys waiting to go on so that will be a good excuse to have a poke around the brake calliper as well.

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