caliper probs.

[moggymorgan]

hi all,i have a prob on my 1980 a/c van. cu motor. front n/s brake comes on ok but will not release after braking. if i push the pistons back the wheel turns fine, if i put the brakes on the brake pads bind quite tight against the disc after i take my foot off the pedal. i think i have a problem within the caliper but any ideas would be great........... thanks

[KamperKev]

Time for a recon caliper or get a service kit. Probably perished / hard seals and a rusty/ pitted piston.
Best of luck.

[California Dreamin]

As he said^^^^^corrosion has set in around one or both of the pistons, it is possible to free them off by working them back and forth with some plus gas squirted through a gap in the dust cover but this will only be a temporary fix and will let you down again in a matter of months.

Martin

[billy739]

slight chance its the flexi hose calapsed.
but as stated usually the caliper pistons on early stuff

[Hacksawbob]

personally I would get a recon caliper rather than a refurb.
http://www.brakesint.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[moggymorgan]

thanks for the info. looks like its time to open the tool box and wallet.

[frankb25]

Try squirting brake fluid,rather than plus gas etc, behind the seal. Not a permanent fix but does last for ages - until the next time the van is not used for a few weeks. An MoT man told me this years ago (this is on a 1981 2.0 a/c). I use wrecking bar to move the pistons back after each press on the pedal by my missus. I did buy a pair of calipers off billy739 but have not got round to fitting them yet - maybe they have also seized by now.

[tandemsandy]

Our Mazda 323f was prone to sticky & corroded pistons. I used to unbolt the caliper & remove the pads, pump the brake pedal to pop the pistons out, then clean them up with fine 600 grit emery paper. Lube them with clean brake fluid, pop 'em back in, bleed and all was well again.

Rob

[StuM]

If the callipers need reconditioning, this place was used by a lot of the guys when I had my MR2 Roadster:

http://www.biggred.co.uk/

Not cheap, but beautiful work by all accounts.