My fathers 08 1.9TDI has been stood for 9 months and when come to get it back on the road we find the rear nearside brake is locked on. It was left with handbrake on.

 

I've tried short-sharp acceleration and braking in drive and reverse to try to free it, together with tapping callipers with thor hammer, but still locked on. Handbake cable is free.

 

Looking for advice on how to free the brakes / calliper.

 

Thanks

Plenty of lubricating/penetrating  fluid into the handbrake mechanism on the rear caliper to free up the lever, But i would put a new caliper on, never had much success in freeing up stuck calipers, You may free it but it will probably start binding not long after..

Take wheel off, make sure the caliper handbrake lever is fully in the released position, push it if not. Remove the pads (remove the two retaining bolts in the sliders and lever them out). Then wind the caliper piston back using the proper tool, may be tough, but once it starts moving, crack open the bleed valve and continue to wind back fully while allowing fluid to drain to a suitable container. Close the bleed valve and gently pump the brake pedal to push the cylinder out again taking great care not the push the cylinder out too far. Repeat wind back operation. Refit, bleed, top up.

 

Otherwise new calipers. Good luck.

Edited 23 June, 20187 yr by xman