Brake advice required

[Tearoom]

Last night I took my Zed out for the first time this year, it has been garaged for the last 4 months.
I went for an approx. 5 mile drive and everything seemed ok, until I checked the wheels.
The front right (drivers side) was really hot, the other 3 were all cool.
I am assuming that I have a ceased brake on that wheel which I will take off and inspect at the weekend.
I am not very mechanically minded so not entirely sure what I am going to do, but I thought there is no harm is asking for ideas as to what to look out for.
Funnily enough, the very wheel that is in my avatar.
As a precaution I have her booked into my local garage on Monday.

 

[Brian4]

The caliper can be repaired but it isn't cost effective for a garage to do it so will need a new caliper. It is best to fit them in pairs, easy enough job for a garage to do. Get the rest of the brakes checked over as well.

I did a refurb on mine recently https://zroadster.org/threads/brake-caliper-seal-replacement.4892/

You could supply the calipers for the garage and might be cheaper than them supplying Euro carparts have them for sale.

 

[GazHyde]

I bought a refurbished OEM calliper from Euro Car Parts which worked out at about £60 once I returned the failed one from my car. They are refurbed by Pagid so really high quality replacement.

 

[bertiejaffa]

The caliper can be repaired but it isn't cost effective for a garage to do it so will need a new caliper. It is best to fit them in pairs, easy enough job for a garage to do. Get the rest of the brakes checked over as well.

I did a refurb on mine recently https://zroadster.org/threads/brake-caliper-seal-replacement.4892/

You could supply the calipers for the garage and might be cheaper than them supplying Euro carparts have them for sale.

The caliper can be repaired and quite easily with parts from BIGGRED. Otherwise a new one from eurocarparts (or similar) will cost you around £80 with £25 of that surcharged when you give them your old caliper. Its an easy job to replace it at home as long as you have a brake bleeder, otherwise a garage will charge you around 30mins - 1 hour labour

And I disagree with Brain4 - one stuck caliper does not mean you have to replace both. If the pads were being replaced then yes these need replacing in pairs but not the calipers.

 

[smiffy]

Caliper piston could just be sticky due to lack of use. Before you go buying a new caliper, try the following;

1. remove cap from brake fluid reservoir cap and wrap some rag around it
2. remove caliper from leg
3. using a carpenters G cramp around the caliper, slowly wind the cramp up, pushing the piston back into the caliper.
4. refit the caliper and pads, then pump the brake pedal to push the piston out again.
5. repeat the above.

The rag is to catch any excess brake fluid that may be forced out of the reservoir when you push the piston in.

reassemble, top up fluid and road test. Make sure you have pedal pressure BEFORE going on road test!

 

[t-tony]

Caliper piston could just be sticky due to lack of use. Before you go buying a new caliper, try the following;

1. remove cap from brake fluid reservoir cap and wrap some rag around it
2. remove caliper from leg
3. using a carpenters G cramp around the caliper, slowly wind the cramp up, pushing the piston back into the caliper.
4. refit the caliper and pads, then pump the brake pedal to push the piston out again.
5. repeat the above.

The rag is to catch any excess brake fluid that may be forced out of the reservoir when you push the piston in.

reassemble, top up fluid and road test. Make sure you have pedal pressure BEFORE going on road test!

Agree here but,. you don't need to remove the calliper, you can put a large flat screwdriver between the outer pad and the edge of the disc to push the piston back. If you need more pressure than that it's likely you're only prolonging the inevitable.

Tony.

 

[smiffy]

we are all dodging the inevitable!

personally, I'd pop the piston out, clean it all up, and put it back together again and bleed it knowing it would either be fine for another 10k, or maybe not.

However, with the OP stating "I am not very mechanically minded", I won't suggest that, and the G cramp method keeps everything nice and square. Give it a jiggle with a screwdriver is for pro's with "the feel for it"

 

[t-tony]

Fair point there mate. We tend to use a large pair off water pump pliers at work and I saw one of the ex Halfords boys using his "way out of square" and just couldn't see why it wouldn't go back, too much brute force and ignorance.

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

Caliper piston could just be sticky due to lack of use. Before you go buying a new caliper, try the following;

1. remove cap from brake fluid reservoir cap and wrap some rag around it
2. remove caliper from leg
3. using a carpenters G cramp around the caliper, slowly wind the cramp up, pushing the piston back into the caliper.
4. refit the caliper and pads, then pump the brake pedal to push the piston out again.
5. repeat the above.

The rag is to catch any excess brake fluid that may be forced out of the reservoir when you push the piston in.

reassemble, top up fluid and road test. Make sure you have pedal pressure BEFORE going on road test!

Totally agree, this worked fine with my rears, not the fronts though they were knackered so I replaced them, its an easy enough job and a good excuse to buy a brake bleeder and change the fluid imo.

 

[Tearoom]

Ouch...... new caliper and brake pipe, what with labour and VAT I didn't see any change out of £200.
Still the old girl is back on the road, that's the main thing.