Hi guys,

 

The last couple of weeks when leaving the car I have smelt my brake pads cooking, now the days of spirited driving were about 80k miles ago and with running costs and the age of the car it leads a very gentle life. It is also only the front nearside wheel that smells & produces excessive heat.

 

The pads/discs need replacing in the coming weeks but I am worried as to what the cause/solution could be to one calliper binding 1/3 of the time.

 

Can anyone suggest anything?

 

Cheers

 

 

Crud on the slider pins.

Strip the offending caliper down, grease the slider pins and push the caliper back in to 'free it up'. Pump the pedal before driving. Should take an hour.

Thanks guys, next question is, is this a DIY job for some with an ounce of common sense, but no real experience? Any suggested tools required? 

You need a 7mm allen key for the front and I think its a 17mm and a 1/2" spanner for the back. I say 1/2" because thats the size that fitted the nut best when I did my brakes last week.

 

Dave

Easy to DIY, the fronts are always easier than the rears as you have to wind the rear caliper in, the front just pushes in. I would do it ASAP, as a sticking brake will over heat the wheel bearing and shorten its life.

Tools needed,
7mm allen.
WInd back tool.
Torque wrench (if your doing it properly)

1. Wheel off, supporting car appropriately.
 

2. Remove caliper spring, i use pliers.

3. Remove top & bottom slider pins at back of caliper. (only two)
(Now you can take off the caliper, dont let it hang)

4. Clean up the slider pins, getting all the muck and road grime off, then cover them in a copper grease.

6. Remove pads and use an appropriate wind back tool (ive seen it done with a jack) to push the caliper back in as far as it will go, if it wont budge, its new caliper time im afraid. 

7. Copper grease the edge of the pads, but dont put it on the friction material!

8. Put it all back together again, pumping the pedal several times before driving.