brake issues after storage

Post Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:10 pm

ive just bought my IS out of hibernation and all is well apart from a binding issue with the rear brakes.

as the car was stored handbrake off I assumed it was the calipers so took them off cleaned them up and regreased the backs of the pads but the problem persists.

Is the handbrake the likely culprit after all? I take it I need to remove the discs to get to the gubbins inside? Will i need to replace any parts or is it usually just a clean up job?

Post Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:15 pm

if it was stored with handbrake off, its unlikely to be the problem.

Might be that the caliper slide pins need lube'ing up.....

Post Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:45 pm

It's possible the friction material has come away from the handbrake shoe and jammed the brake on.

Post Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:52 pm

Well I had chance to give the brakes a once over today. Gave them another good clean, copper greased the pistons and back of pads again. Cleaned and lubed the sliding pins with silicone grease but the problem still remains.

Any other possibilities? Its definately not the handbrake either as its free when the calipers are off.

I noticed the brake servo is a bit noisey too, could this be connected? The brakes feel fine though and seem to be working fine too apart from the rear binding, totally stumped now.

Post Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:22 pm

Any ideas? Caliper rebuild? Master cylinder?

Post Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:38 pm

If it's not a stupid question, how do you know the rear brakes are binding? Feels sticky spinning the wheel by hand when jacked up, smells hot when driving etc? With the back wheel jacked up and everything still connected, try hand and footbrake seperately to try and work out what is happening. ie check wheel is moving freely, handbrake on, handbrake off, and check that it still spins freely. Leave handbrake off, stand on the foot brake, foot brake off and check if the wheel spins freely. You should then know if it's handbrake or rear calipers that are causing the problem.

If calipers, it's fairly easy to strip them down, take the seals out with a small fine screwdriver (carefully and they can be reused) sometimes there is a bit of corroded alloy crud behind the seals that makes them drag/stick a bit. Give everything a clean and stick them back together again.

Post Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:16 pm

You can hear them rubbing when driving, and the wheels are hard to turn when jacked. Its definately not the handbrake as the discs turn freely with the pads out. Ill strip the calipers and have a look but im starting to wonder if its the master cylinder as its both rear brakes.

Post Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:43 am

How far has the car been driven? A bit of noise is normal for a while just getting rid of any surface rust that has built up whilst off road. The wheel will never spin round freely as there will be resistance from diff/drive, but shouldn't need "a heave and a grunt" to move it either. When it is jacked up spin the wheel round (or just roll the car back and forward if you are parked on the level), press and release the brakes, then see if it is any more difficult or still the same to move.

If more difficult the calipers are likely binding. If still the same the noise may just be surface rust being worn off. I've not come across master cylinder problems leading to rear brakes sticking on, only seals perishing and brake failure. Somebody else may have though?