N/S/F Brake was binding but no fault found !

patrolman pete · 28th August 2020, 19:59

After successfully passing her MOT yesterday , my tourer decided she didn't want to go far today and like a stubborn dog ,she felt like she was dragging on her lead. The smell of hot brake pads lead me to a hot n/s/f wheel so a careful drive a short distance home and after jacking up confirmed the brake was binding. However levering back the piston carefully it moved freely. Off with the calliper and the pins were free and the pads free in the carrier .

Put it back together with a bit copperslip in a couple of places and road tested and all okay ! Did the other side for good measure and a 20 mile road test and still all is well. Pedal feels fine and no abs issues . Car just being female I suppose

Hopefully keeps behaving herself as next weekend I'm going camping in Wiltshire for one week followed another week in Cornwall before the long drive back to the Northeast.

Odd Job · 28th August 2020, 20:15

I had this happen years ago on a car.
It happened a couple of times. I couldn't find the problem. Just as you have done, piston nice and free, no apparent issues with sticking pads.
What I ended up doing was replacing the flexi brake pipe as it was very hard,
flushing through the brake caliper with new fluid, what came out was pretty horrid.

I guessed that they're may have been a mixture of gunk in the system which every so often prevented the piston releasing after the brake pedal had been pressed.

It never did it again after that. I had the car 9 years in total!

SCP440 · 28th August 2020, 20:53

When did you last apply the brakes as if you were in emergency stop? The reason a ask is I have a customer with a Focus who has had a similar problem a few times. The first time I did the same as you but it returned a month or so later. A mechanic friend told me the emergency stop trick and it does work.

I have no idea why but if the problem returns try it.

It can also stop brake squeal on some cars for some reason.

patrolman pete · 28th August 2020, 21:34

Dave my MOT tester would have applied the brakes to lock the wheels on the brake tester yesterday but nothing to report apart for how impressed he was with my 200,000 mile diesel emissions

The car pulls up cleanly and without pulling to either side . She's probably attention seeking as I've mostly been using her sister Connie for trips out !

KeithA · 29th August 2020, 09:09

I've also had the same and turned out to be the Flexi pipe

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 Pro using Tapatalk

suzublu · 29th August 2020, 10:26

I've been suffering the same problem Pete, only with both n/side calipers. Got fed up stripping and cleaning every few weeks so I just replaced both with new.

Hopefully that'll sort it.
I'm taking mine up to Dave's Sept 7th for the mot, fingers crossed

Mike Noc · 29th August 2020, 11:23

Had the same problem on a Golf Caddy. First time it happened the piston moved freely so cleaned out the slider pins and lubricated them and everything worked as it should....... for about a month.

Recon caliper now fitted.

patrolman pete · 29th August 2020, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzublu

I've been suffering the same problem Pete, only with both n/side calipers. Got fed up stripping and cleaning every few weeks so I just replaced both with new.

Hopefully that'll sort it.
I'm taking mine up to Dave's Sept 7th for the mot, fingers crossed

Hi Ronnie , Dave did my MOT and she passed with only a couple of advisories but I spoke to him to see if he had any ideas about the issue and he said it could be the master cylinder sticking due to wear in the middle of the bore as he’s seen it before . He advised getting a 2nd hand master cylinder and servo as a unit. Only problem is I’m at work until next Sunday and need the car for my holidays on Monday!

cengar · 29th August 2020, 17:24

Try changing the flexy pipe they break down internally and act as a one way valve holding on the pressure. The pressure will die away slowly so as not to be obviously noticeable when checking caliper

COLVERT · 29th August 2020, 21:45

As per the above post.

Sticking master cylinder will affect all four brakes. Very rare.

28th August 2020, 19:59	#1
patrolman pete Posted a thing or two Rover 75 club se tourer CDT and a Connoisseur SE Diesel Auto Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houghton - le - Spring Posts: 1,418 Thanks: 618 Thanked 333 Times in 197 Posts	N/S/F Brake was binding but no fault found ! After successfully passing her MOT yesterday , my tourer decided she didn't want to go far today and like a stubborn dog ,she felt like she was dragging on her lead. The smell of hot brake pads lead me to a hot n/s/f wheel so a careful drive a short distance home and after jacking up confirmed the brake was binding. However levering back the piston carefully it moved freely. Off with the calliper and the pins were free and the pads free in the carrier . Put it back together with a bit copperslip in a couple of places and road tested and all okay ! Did the other side for good measure and a 20 mile road test and still all is well. Pedal feels fine and no abs issues . Car just being female I suppose Hopefully keeps behaving herself as next weekend I'm going camping in Wiltshire for one week followed another week in Cornwall before the long drive back to the Northeast.

28th August 2020, 20:15	#2
Odd Job Gets stuck in MG ZT 2.0 cdti Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Derby Posts: 909 Thanks: 298 Thanked 191 Times in 149 Posts	I had this happen years ago on a car. It happened a couple of times. I couldn't find the problem. Just as you have done, piston nice and free, no apparent issues with sticking pads. What I ended up doing was replacing the flexi brake pipe as it was very hard, flushing through the brake caliper with new fluid, what came out was pretty horrid. I guessed that they're may have been a mixture of gunk in the system which every so often prevented the piston releasing after the brake pedal had been pressed. It never did it again after that. I had the car 9 years in total! __________________ ….And the latest thing to break is..... ### MG STANDS FOR "MY GREMLIN" !!!

29th August 2020, 09:09	#5
KeithA Loves to post Rover 75 Conny Tourer Auto Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Essex Posts: 347 Thanks: 75 Thanked 94 Times in 71 Posts	I've also had the same and turned out to be the Flexi pipe Sent from my Redmi Note 7 Pro using Tapatalk __________________ 2003 Tourer, Connoisseur Auto

28th August 2020, 20:53	#3
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	When did you last apply the brakes as if you were in emergency stop? The reason a ask is I have a customer with a Focus who has had a similar problem a few times. The first time I did the same as you but it returned a month or so later. A mechanic friend told me the emergency stop trick and it does work. I have no idea why but if the problem returns try it. It can also stop brake squeal on some cars for some reason.

28th August 2020, 21:34	#4
patrolman pete Posted a thing or two Rover 75 club se tourer CDT and a Connoisseur SE Diesel Auto Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houghton - le - Spring Posts: 1,418 Thanks: 618 Thanked 333 Times in 197 Posts	Dave my MOT tester would have applied the brakes to lock the wheels on the brake tester yesterday but nothing to report apart for how impressed he was with my 200,000 mile diesel emissions The car pulls up cleanly and without pulling to either side . She's probably attention seeking as I've mostly been using her sister Connie for trips out !

29th August 2020, 10:26	#6
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,921 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	I've been suffering the same problem Pete, only with both n/side calipers. Got fed up stripping and cleaning every few weeks so I just replaced both with new. Hopefully that'll sort it. I'm taking mine up to Dave's Sept 7th for the mot, fingers crossed

29th August 2020, 11:23	#7
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,550 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Had the same problem on a Golf Caddy. First time it happened the piston moved freely so cleaned out the slider pins and lubricated them and everything worked as it should....... for about a month. Recon caliper now fitted.

29th August 2020, 17:24	#9
cengar Loves to post rover 75 saloon cdti Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Trelights Posts: 351 Thanks: 158 Thanked 168 Times in 123 Posts	Try changing the flexy pipe they break down internally and act as a one way valve holding on the pressure. The pressure will die away slowly so as not to be obviously noticeable when checking caliper

29th August 2020, 21:45	#10
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	As per the above post. Sticking master cylinder will affect all four brakes. Very rare.