Hi, looking for some advice before admitting complete defeat.

I have a MK1 Skoda Fabia VRS. A few weeks ago, I noticed the OSR brake pads were wearing much quicker compared to the others. The rear caliper, disc and wheel were also getting very hot - even after short-ish journeys under normal braking conditions.

Thinking the caliper must be sticky (although it was only 18 months old), I went ahead and replaced the caliper, discs and pads along with replacing sliding pins and greasing everything but the problem remained.

Fast forward to today: I’ve replaced flexi hoses, tested the handbrake (it’s not that), plugged into VCDS (no faults) and even tried removing the fuse to the ABS pump to see if that makes any difference (assuming it may be pushing too much pressure to the OSR).

I’ve seen similar issues on here but no posts about how or if they’ve been resolved. We had the car for 15 years and she is the best, most reliable vehicle I’ve owned. I don’t want to get rid of her but running out of options.

Any advice will be grateful received.

Welcome to the forum.

How did you determine that the handbrake isn't causing the OSR brake to drag?

16 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Welcome to the forum.

How did you determine that the handbrake isn't causing the OSR brake to drag?

I’ve checked the handbrake several times it’s in the right position when released and engaged. I’ve also had the handbrake cables disconnected and gone for drives, and had the same results very hot OSR brake.

Could be a defective new caliper (not common but not impossible) although might be pads that are tight in the carrier. Have had some that were slightly too large and were very stiff. Slight file of the edges and sorted it. Make sure area the pads sit in on carrier is clean and free from rust etc and check pads arent too tight. Also check the rear wheel bearing for roughness and play as well and make sure the discs are running true and not binding at some point. If the bearing or disc isnt running true it can cause disc to bind and heat up/wear pads

Alasdair

I'm guessing that the new calliper when fitted along with new pads, was free to rotate when everything was "buttoned up".

If necessary fully retract the calliper, I know that recon'd callipers come with the instruction that they have been already correctly retracted and so don't do anything to them - but I've always redone the "fully retract" just in case and not had any issues.