My front offside wheel is eating brake pads. Some months ago I noticed that the wheel was quickly becoming black with brake dust and on checking found that the pads, which had only done about 5000 miles, were worn down to the metal backing plates. Needless to say, the wheel was getting very hot too!
I thought perhaps the lower sliding calliper pin was the culprit but after changing this, as well as the front brakes pads complete (both sides), the problem has not gone away. So it looks as though the calliper itself is to blame, with a sticking piston perhaps. My question is, short of taking the car to a garage, can anyone suggest anything I can try to free up the piston, which doesn’t involve bleeding the brakes? Thanks in advance!
sounds definitely like a partially seized calliper; can’t think of freeing the piston without removal & service on the offending item.
on my old Mk1 it happened mid Wales so I slammed the brakes on/off/on/off which temporarilly eased the piston but had to recon it asap.
good luck
Thanks Ian…have you used ‘Budweg’ yourself? I’ve never heard of them. Curiously, on the web site you’ve provided a link for, I see details of the calliper I need, but no way of ordering.
Just do it and yes I have used them and they are good quality.
Then get an infra red thermometer and check your cars disk brake temperatures once every few months and replace or rerubber as required.
Have you been getting the brake fluid repleced every few years that tends to reduce not get rid of the problem.
Modern cars tend to go through calipers and if you are not happy to bleed th,em then get a garage to do it and if you do not check them. then the heat of the sticky calipers melts the wheelbearing grease.
Thanks for the help guys, especially to IanH who recommended Budweg callipers from Brakes International GB. Bought the calliper via eBay - very good price and next day delivery at no extra charge. I did the work myself, including the brake bleeding and everything went smoothly… well satisfied!