sticking calliper

[escort]

hi
i have a 1989 transit 2ltr petrol
wilst traveling to weymouth and some stop starting due to trafic on the m5 my driver side front brake got very hot
i took the wheel off [very hot] and could not turn the wheel [the other side was ok
i thought that the sliding mecanisium had seized but this was ok
i manualy levered the caliper to and fro a few times let it cool down and carried on stopping frequently to checkEVERYTHING FINE
i had my weeks holiday and traveled back today and everything ok
any ideas
ps the pads are as new
cheers george

[jay]

check the wheel bearings to see if an play or metal filings any where to see if bearing is breaking up.that could be the cause of the hot wheel.also recheck the brake calipers on both side they may only stick every now and then..what sort of transit??twin wheeel or single wheel??

[escort]

hi jay
no play or metal fillings in baering
van is short wheelbase single wheel [2 piston sliding calliper]
could it be that the pins that the calliper slides on are worn and that the calliper is not moving parrallal and so istwisting and not clearing sometimes ???
cheers george

[john leeman]

I bet you the o/s front caliper is siezed, (pistons siezed inside the caliper), replacement from scrap yard or recon. when fitted check brakes are balanced at a garage with a rolling road brake tester.

[jay]

check the sliders and the pistons to see if they are corroded or seizedalso check that the new brake pads are fitting ok and not sticking in the caliper housing..

[escort]

hi
thanks john and jay for your reply
however ive checked everything you suggested and seems to be ok
the only thing i can see is thatthe rubber dust seal around the pistons are a bit split so maybe thepiston culd be corroded but as i say they move in and out when i opperate the brakes or move them manualy
cheers george

[ovlov]

If the piston has a bit of corrosion around the outer edge and youve just fitted new pads this could be your problem as the piston will not be able to go back far enough, you might be able to peel back the dust covers and clean it up with some fine emery paper, But if its to bad its like john says a visit to the scrappy.

[escort]

thanks mate
ill try and get a recon
am i right in thinking that the pistons retract slightly when the preasure is released ie theres no return mecanisium ?
cheers george

[ovlov]

Youre right, when presure released the pistons go back but if used for a while with half worn pads they can get a bit of corrosion on the outer edge and cannot retract fully when new pads fitted they rub on disc causing them to heat up you could also check for any build up of rust on the discs as well

[escort]

thanks mate
do you know if i can buy the rubber dust seals or a kit of some sort?
cheers george

[MrMPuk]

Yeah you can get a full brake caliper overhaul kit, comes with all the seals.