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Suddenly a second Brake Caliper situation

My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently. It didn't cost me anything so cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.

After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding noise was coming from the front.

My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.

I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was them trying to hoodwink me.

Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front. I'm wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a squirt of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause another caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?

Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad news for me at the moment. Thanks for any advice.

Reply to
john west
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Was the recall anything to do with the brakes, or completely unrelated?

Seems odd for both calipers to "stick" in quick succession. Assuming that they're single piston calipers, they need to be free to slide sideways in order to equalise the force (and wear) on both pads. If this sliding mechanism slicks, it doesn't necessary need the caliper to be replaced - simply taking it apart, cleaning it and re-greasing it should be sufficient. There would still be a labour charge for that, of course unless - like me - you would do it yourself.

Reply to
Roger Mills

Was it really that bad? Did you check for movement?

The only time I have heard grinding noise is metal to metal contact, where the pads have come into contact with the disk, or on one occasion when I was in a hurry actually put the pad in the wrong way round.

My instinct says that most garages are honest, but you never know.

Reply to
Fredxx

If it's 20 years old, one possible cause is deteriorating brake hoses which can act as a one way valve causing the pads to stick on.

Reply to
Biggles

Had what I assume was a stone stuck in the mechanism recently - horrible noise and took 20 or so miles to dislodge.

Reply to
RJH

Yes. More usual symptom of a sticking caliper is that brake getting very hot. So smell, or even smoke.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News

Unless they were almost new, a garage would recommend replacing the pads on both front wheels when replacing a caliper, and possibly discs too.

I would check the pads and discs for obvious wear. If they look ok, try an Italian tune up to get some extra heat and pressure in the calipers.

Reply to
Nick Finnigan

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