Hi

 

Just a quick question. Does anyone know how I can check if my rear calipers are knackered? They are binding when I move the car without the engine on. Also if they are knacked, is it worth changing the rotors and the pads at the same time? My mates feeling is just replace calipers and see how they bed in and then replace other bits, otherwise it will be hard to notice any significant difference.

 

Cheers jack

from reading around here, is the hand brake travel okay? or is it pulling loosely before then tightening at the top end end of travel?

any damage to the cable underneath or at the pivot could cause the binding.

Its also quite worth checking the little clip spring thingy at the rotors end. they seem to crop up as an issue a fair bit,

and can also cause binding.

i think thats pretty much everything other than the calipers.. so if they are all in working order then your at the calipers.

I dont really see the benefit of only changing the calipers first imho. if they are shot then you'll know whether you change pads and discs or not.

if they need changing then just do the whole lot together, else you'll be doubling up on the work...

I've got the same problem I think on my car. A year ago the back left brake was squeaking when driving slowly and there was a lot more brake dust on the back wheels than the front.  A garage changed the disks and pads and said to keep an eye on it.  Things did get a bit better for a couple of months but now both back wheels have a lot of brake dust and the squeaking is back again.

 

My hand brake lever does have a little slack but only for about a centrimetre.  The first thing I did was fit the VW Sharon helper springs but this didn't seem to make any difference really.

 

Now I've just got replacement calipers off ebay and will let you know if they sort out the problem.

thanks for that. I have jacked it up and and with handbrake off the driverside caliper doesn't return when you manually move it. think this is caliper. does anyone agree. cable looks sweet! cheers

Before looking to change the calliper I would strip them down and clean up the pads, sliders and the little steel shims that go between the pads and callipers.

 

The rear brakes don't do a great deal and crude/salt builds up and stops the pads moving smoothly.

I had the same problem I stripped mine down and found that one of the sliders was seized on I have sorted it now and no noise at all now

Edited 14 December, 201312 yr by georgecaw

You are right that would make sense, however just thinking of time it takes to do that! I could have replaced them. The car has done 110k and they look original. I fear I will be doing a short term fix for something that will return. Also I meant the handbrake mechanism doesn't return when pressed. decisions decisions! cheers

If it is caused by a build up of crud it will return, even if you change the calliper.

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