brakes binding, one front wheel only, intermittent

[EastCoast-Transit]

HI

I'm having an intermittent problem with my Transit... one brake is remaining on when I release the foot pedal. It's the front right hand side.

It happened about a month ago, drove home (about 5km), front right wheel was hot but not madly so.

Then a few days ago it happened again, I had to continue driving, about 5km.. when I stopped the front right hand brake disc was glowing red hot.

In both cases when this happened stopping the engine and restarting doesn't help.. but the brakes were fine the following morning, so it seems the pressure is remaining in the front right hand side and is slowly released over time. Possibly the excessive heat could also be a secondary problem.


So I need new pads and discs as the front right hand disc is now badly scored, but it wasn't before this problem so it isn't the original problem.

So why is the front right hand brake remaining on? No grinding noises or noises of any kind... slight noises when problem is happening, but next morning problem is gone and brakes work fine, with no noises... pads seem to be quite well worn though and due to be replaced.

Is it the calipers? (or is there a caliper 'slide' that may be sticky)?

What's a 'flexi'?, could it be this? (There are about 4mm or 5mm diameter metal tubes coming out of the master cylinder, not flexible hoses?.. are there flexible hoses used further along?)

Could it be the master cylinder?, or would this cause both front brakes to have the same problem as both pipes come out of the same resevoir on the master cylinder?

My mechanic wants to just replace the discs and pads.. and not worry about the original cause!.. this seems a bit silly to me, as I'll just wreck the new discs and pads. My mechanic refuses to take off the wheel to examine the pads and calipers etc.. he says there's no point, there won't be a visual problem.. can he be right?, or could there be a obvious problem with the calipers or some other component?


I'm a cabinet maker, not a mechanic.. my current mechanic next door works on heavy plant equipment and is not a Ford specialist.. however I do know two brothers who are each head mechanics in seperate Ford garages (in Dublin, Ireland).. I'd probably be far better off with them would I?

Any help would be much appreciated..

Cheers Joe

Transit is a 2001 UK model, right hand drive... not sure about exact model, long wheel base, very tall, drum brakes on the rear. I can send more info or photos etc... (Where can I get the MK info, i.e MK5 or MK6 etc etc?)

[performancetek]

Sounds like a collapsed flexi hose tbh. If it was a sticky caliper it would usually be all the time it sticks.

[sidspop]

HI





Is it the calipers? (or is there a caliper 'slide' that may be sticky)?

What's a 'flexi'?, could it be this? (There are about 4mm or 5mm diameter metal tubes coming out of the master cylinder, not flexible hoses?.. are there flexible hoses used further along?)



Cheers Joe

)

It sounds as though it's the flexi.
Joe, the pipework on the body of the van is solid, where it can be clipped to the body. Under the wheelarch, there has to be a flexible pipe that can move, to allow the wheel to go up and down. These are made of re-enforced rubber, and they have a habit of breaking down inside, and act like a one way valve, not allowing the brake fluid back into the system.

If you are going to do the pads and discs, while your man is at it, get him to check the cylinders, and change the flexis.
You will then need to put fresh rake fluid through everything, but that's not such a bad thing. It should be done every few years anyway. By doing all this you will have good anchors and confidence in the van.


Cheers

Andy

[EastCoast-Transit]

Hi

Thanks for the replies... much appreciated.

Yes, there is a flexi pipe at the wheel arch, (as you all already know ).. it looks fine but I'll get it replaced.. I hope it can be purchased as a seperate part, or made up from stock tubing... the fact that the pressure is released slowly over time, that the problem is on one wheel only and that the problem is intermittent seems to indicate the flexi hose...


I'll also insist that the mechanic examines the piston slider in the caliper for signs of stickiness...


Cheers so,
Joe

[Timbo]

Hi,
Is the opposite side rear brake getting hot as well ? If so it could be one section of the master cylinder not returning fully. (Diagonal split system.)
This may be because the brake pedal is not returning properly. When it happens again try hooking the pedal up with your foot and see if it helps. If it does then either there is a return spring broken at the pedal or the stoplight switch is holding it down. Or the mastercylinder is sticking.
Regards Timbo

[sidspop]

Hi

Thanks for the replies... much appreciated.

Yes, there is a flexi pipe at the wheel arch, (as you all already know ).. it looks fine but I'll get it replaced.. I hope it can be purchased as a seperate part, or made up from stock tubing... the fact that the pressure is released slowly over time, that the problem is on one wheel only and that the problem is intermittent seems to indicate the flexi hose...


I'll also insist that the mechanic examines the piston slider in the caliper for signs of stickiness...


Cheers so,
Joe

Yes they can be replaced as separate part, and you dont neccessarily have to use Ford part. Depending on the age of the van, it will be most likely a metric fitting each end, and as long as you get the correct length it will work. The ones on my truck (on my avatar) are osbolete, so I used TR5 pipes.
Make sure your man soaks the fittings in diesel or WD40 first, to allow disconnection.
How old is the van?

[winterheating]

bestr way to check flexi.
drive until it binds on, undo flexi connection on caliper, if fluid doesnt squirt out then problem is caliper, if it does squirt out, then drive again till binds on and undo brake pipe where it joins to mastercylinder if it doesnt squirt out it indicates its flexi thats the restriction.

[dojj]

changing the brake pipes is easy, just make sure that the guy checks the claipers aren't sticking either and cleans the sliding pins and all the moving surfaces where they rub as a build up of brake dust will also cause the stickyness you describe

i'm sure that someone here could have a look and tell you in a matter of secodns which problem was inflicting your brakes, faulty brake lines, sticking caliper slides, sticky piston in the caliper

[whogotmelighter]

i had the same problem about a month ago, was the flexi's, changed both sides to be on the safe side and replaced the pads/cleaned freed the claipers.
i got the hoses from quicko in trafford park, cost about 40quid in total.

[performancetek]

if it turns out it is the flexi, your best replacing them all to be on the safe side, and best using stainless braided ones (they last longer and work better)

[bigjohnthomas]

can you buy braided ones off the shelf ? or do you have to get them made up? and why do they last longer? isnt it the inside of the pipe that you cant see thats degrading and causing problems and thats the same stuff a normal flexys made of isnt it? mmm rubber hose oh yes

[performancetek]

I dont think you can get them off the shelf, but helpful folk like me can swage a set to any specification The inner core is teflon, covered by a stainless steel braid, and a pvc outer sheath. The stock rubber ones expand and contract when you use the brakes, and theres only so much they take before the structure is weakened.

[bigjohnthomas]

cool how much would a pair of them be

[bigjohnthomas]

54 quid not bad. 4 lines any colour bargain
http://www.brake-lines.co.uk/hel-brake-lines-ford-transit-190.html

[Terry]

Only a LITTLE bit suspect 4 flexi lines ? Surely only 3 really !
One for each front wheel and one body to live axle at the rear.
You can probably get genuine Goodrich/Aeroquip for that sort of money.
If any one is interested I can get a quote for some sets.