So yesterday I took the car for about a 2 mile trip and I noticed that the front left brake is nearly fully seized on (the car did drive but the brake got extreamly hot)

So today I had a look at the brake caliper and the disc was locked in place. There are no visiable leaks to the caliper. So to start with I applied anti-seize to the guide pins, and pushed the caliper piston back into its bore, and the caliper slides freely, and disc rotates. But when the brake pedel is applied and the free play taken up after a few pumps, the disc is again unable to be rotated by hand.

I will also point out the car has been sat unused for around a month now. And just before that I had applied anti seize to the pads to stop them squealing.

Anyone got any sugestions to how to diagnose which part is at fault and may need referbishing/replacing? I don't just want to be replacing parts at random.

Do a full guide pin service
remove the caliper remove the pins clean their bores with brake cleaner and add silicone grease in order to avoid harming the boot,
also derpress the brake pedal a few times enough to get the piston a bit more proud of the body remove the dust seal and inspect it's surface,

maybe add some silicone lubricant and work the thing back and forth a few times

Edited 21 January, 20215 yr by Thefeliciahacker

I Did the guide pins today, so it's not them.

I didn't remove the dust seal and check the pistons condition (I can check tommorrow), but the piston does seem to have free travel

It's almost like the fluid pressure is not being released when the brake peddel is.

2 hours ago, R_U_AFA said:

I Did the guide pins today, so it's not them.

I didn't remove the dust seal and check the pistons condition (I can check tommorrow), but the piston does seem to have free travel

It's almost like the fluid pressure is not being released when the brake peddel is.

clogged line or cylinder? (i doubt it)

If you are 100% sure the brake caliper is not seized, then it's the brake hose.

1 hour ago, RicardoM said:

If you are 100% sure the brake caliper is not seized, then it's the brake hose.

 

It sounds like it's the rubber brake hose. These deteriorate with age, especially where they flex resulting in the rubber hose acting like a one-way valve. The brake fluid will pass the restriction when under great pressure, ie. when you apply the brake pedal...but the brake fluid doesn't return easily so the brakes stay partially on resulting in difficulty turning by hand and extremely hot brakes.

 

You can check the brake hose once removed. Simply blow down it and if air doesn't pass through easily, you know that it has a blockage, eg. the rubber has swollen inside.

 

When you remove the brake hose, make sure you cover any vent hole at the master cylinder end to prevent losing all the brake fluid. You might be able to use a plastic bag to form the air lock at the master cylinder end by unscrewing the filler cap and then screwing the cap back with the plastic bag covering the threads.

 

This looks like the part you need.

 

OEM part number 6U0611701A

 

http://www.oemepc.com/skoda/part_single/catalog/sk/markt/CZ/modell/FEL/year/2001/drive_standart/101/hg_ug/611/subcategory/611000/part_id/2543858/lang/e

 

Left and right front brake hoses are the same for the Felicia as shown in the link above.

 

Here's a TRW one on ebay.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-TRW-Front-Brake-Hose-PHB376/352654347992?epid=2218277865&hash=item521bd64ed8%3Ag%3ADAUAAOSw68Zcycyx&LH_ItemCondition=3

 

autodoc list a huge range of brands for this OEM part number.

 

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/6u0611701a?search=OEN 6U0611701A

 

Edited 21 January, 20215 yr by Carlston

It was the caliper piston, it's condtion was ok, just stiff on returning (It was lubricated mabey just not enough)

Didn't have any silicon grease, so used a few drops of brake fluid, still I had to push it in and pump it out 8 or 9 times to get it to stop locking the discs.

I suppose it's to be expected as seen as it won't have had any extra lubrication since leaving the factory. I'll have to keep an eye on the other caliper as well.

Fixes that are free are the best.

Edited 22 January, 20215 yr by R_U_AFA

4 hours ago, R_U_AFA said:

It was the caliper piston, it's condtion was ok, just stiff on returning (It was lubricated mabey just not enough)

Didn't have any silicon grease, so used a few drops of brake fluid, still I had to push it in and pump it out 8 or 9 times to get it to stop locking the discs.

I suppose it's to be expected as seen as it won't have had any extra lubrication since leaving the factory. I'll have to keep an eye on the other caliper as well.

Fixes that are free are the best.

Lubrication indicates an internal corrosion issue but if it works its fine I guess