Brakes Seizing...
 

Hi Guys,

Had real problems last night getting the scooby out the garage. It had been sat there happily covered up for a week, and when I went to move her - she wouldn't budge!

The car rocked, but didn't move... Hence alot more revs and flooring it, but nope, not budging...

Cue smell of burning clutch as I give even more revs to try and free her up (after tapping calipers with rubber mallet I might add).

Eventually after 10mins of high rev launches to try and get her moving - BANG - and off she goes...

Now my garage isn't damp or wet, and car wasn't washed and then put away e.t.c.

Not sure if it was handbrake sticking, or rear calipers, but def something from the rear and both sides...

Any common faults or what should I be looking for?

Ryan
:ok:

Caliper pistons can seize and stick but its more common on the WRX 4 pots/2 pots than the brembos I think (certainly heard of - and experienced - more issues with them!). However, it would create the effect of the pad dragging badly, rather than locking onto the disk and then releasing with a bang.

I only get the problem you describe when the car is washed and i've soaked the brakes before parking it up - when the pad actually sticks to the disc surface.

Does handbrake feel normal now the car is rolling again?

Usually the hand brake, I always reverse mine in and leave it in gear now rather than putting the hand brake on if it's going to be left for any period of time.

Biggest problem I had was when I'd put it away wet, driven in forwards and then the battery went flat, couldn't get jump leads on it and couldn't roll it out, managed to charge it in situ in the end despite not being able to get to the front left corner of the car.

Now it's rolling I tested handbrake and it felt ok... I even did a series of tests with handbrake seeing at which point it locked and when it didn't hold car etc - I.e 1 click - don't hold car, 2 clicks - don't hold car, 3 clicks - don't hold car etc

Were you reversing it out ? ,, did i read somewhere they have a hillstart device ? Ie stops them rolling backwards on hills at pull away ,, if they have this could it of been the culprit ?

no mate - was driving it out forwards - and my garage is perfectly flat and level :ok:

use chocks and leave the handbrake off

was the handbrake i should imagine..inboard on the rear discs, when mine used to do it i found putting it in reverse first used to release it.had the whole lot apart and everything was new and free. so imagine it must be a common problem when left a little