Brakes sticking on parked up car

[Hoink]

Hi all,

I think I know the answer to this one but thought I would check.

For the past year I've been using public transport to get to work and as a result have been leaving my car parked on the drive all week (only driving it on Saturdays and Sundays). I park in gear with the handbrake off and all was fine...up until a few weeks ago.

Now after a couple of days the wheels are locked. They pop free if I give it some gas but this doesn't sound healthy and just today my rear wheel slid about two foot before freeing itself. It's one hell of a bang!

What can I do?

I'm guessing rocking back and forth every couple of days would stop the problem (my guess being that it's rust) but is it anything to worry about? Will I do any lasting damage?

If it makes any difference it's a Clio 200 Cup and it's a gravel surface.

Thanks.

[73mark]

service them would be my guess

[McWigglebum4th]

A quick spray of WD40 before leaving the car

[Hoink]

Th car was only serviced a couple of months ago but it was the main dealer who I dont trust or rate (just for the warranty).

Not sure about spraying my brakes!

[gazza285]

Nothing worse for a used car than to be stood still, take it for a spin more often.

[Hoink]

gazza285 said:

Nothing worse for a used car than to be stood still, take it for a spin more often.

Aye, I agree. I will just have to start getting in the routine of taking it out after work a couple of times each week.

[tumble dryer]

Hoink said:

Hi all,

I think I know the answer to this one but thought I would check.

For the past year I've been using public transport to get to work and as a result have been leaving my car parked on the drive all week (only driving it on Saturdays and Sundays). I park in gear with the handbrake off and all was fine...up until a few weeks ago.

Now after a couple of days the wheels are locked. They pop free if I give it some gas but this doesn't sound healthy and just today my rear wheel slid about two foot before freeing itself. It's one hell of a bang!

What can I do?

I'm guessing rocking back and forth every couple of days would stop the problem (my guess being that it's rust) but is it anything to worry about? Will I do any lasting damage?

If it makes any difference it's a Clio 200 Cup and it's a gravel surface.

Thanks.

That's not right.

Think about it, your brake pads shouldn't be in contact with the discs when the car is stationary and no forces applied.

Dealer / warranty visit required.

[Spare tyre]

Leave it in gear and give it a gentle push every couple of days

[TheEnd]

They do stay in contact, but only just touching them, without having any pressure clamping them.

[trashbat]

It's normal and not a problem, to some extent. Happens quite quickly after they get wet (e.g. pressure washing) and are left to corrode.

I've never had it such that it's dragged a wheel though.

[tumble dryer]

TheEnd said:

They do stay in contact, but only just touching them, without having any pressure clamping them.

Really? (Seriously)

Would that not mean that when actually driving the pads are touching the discs? Doesn't sound right to me - But I'm prepared to stand corrected.....

[blank]

Nothing to worry about.

It's probably only dragging a wheel due to the gravel.

[Hoink]

Spare tyre said:

Leave it in gear and give it a gentle push every couple of days

Unfortunately I can't push the car as its a gravel surface.

[Hoink]

I'm out tomorrow morning so will give it a proper run when it's warmed up.

Hopefully it won't be as bad once the weather changes.

[Vipers]

Hoink said:

Hi all,

I think I know the answer to this one but thought I would check.

For the past year I've been using public transport to get to work and as a result have been leaving my car parked on the drive all week (only driving it on Saturdays and Sundays). I park in gear with the handbrake off and all was fine...up until a few weeks ago.

Now after a couple of days the wheels are locked. They pop free if I give it some gas but this doesn't sound healthy and just today my rear wheel slid about two foot before freeing itself. It's one hell of a bang!

What can I do?

I'm guessing rocking back and forth every couple of days would stop the problem (my guess being that it's rust) but is it anything to worry about? Will I do any lasting damage?

If it makes any difference it's a Clio 200 Cup and it's a gravel surface.

Thanks.

This cost me a grand on the Volvo. The shoes used to be riveted on, (apparantly), now they are glued. One of mine came off and jammed on top of the other one.

This scored the inside of the drum. Not being into DIY, took it in for repair, just a tad over a grand.

Not sure if it's the same problem as yours.

[Hoink]

Vipers said:

Hoink said:

Hi all,

I think I know the answer to this one but thought I would check.

For the past year I've been using public transport to get to work and as a result have been leaving my car parked on the drive all week (only driving it on Saturdays and Sundays). I park in gear with the handbrake off and all was fine...up until a few weeks ago.

Now after a couple of days the wheels are locked. They pop free if I give it some gas but this doesn't sound healthy and just today my rear wheel slid about two foot before freeing itself. It's one hell of a bang!

What can I do?

I'm guessing rocking back and forth every couple of days would stop the problem (my guess being that it's rust) but is it anything to worry about? Will I do any lasting damage?

If it makes any difference it's a Clio 200 Cup and it's a gravel surface.

Thanks.

This cost me a grand on the Volvo. The shoes used to be riveted on, (apparantly), now they are glued. One of mine came off and jammed on top of the other one.

This scored the inside of the drum. Not being into DIY, took it in for repair, just a tad over a grand.

Not sure if it's the same problem as yours.

Ouch...I hope not!

It's okay when I've been driving. I think I better start using it more.

[gazza285]

Vipers said:

This cost me a grand on the Volvo. The shoes used to be riveted on, (apparantly), now they are glued. One of mine came off and jammed on top of the other one.

This scored the inside of the drum. Not being into DIY, took it in for repair, just a tad over a grand.

Not sure if it's the same problem as yours.

Pants down there, £150 tops for genuine Volvo bits and an hours work. Scored drums don't matter on a Volvo, they are only used for the handbrake, a quick cleanup and they would be ok to use again.

[MGJohn]

Where lack of regular use is involved, even with handbrake released, the pads could be in above normal pressure contact with the discs because of possible partial or severe seizure of pistons and or sliders in the calipers.

If parked outside, with rain driven almost horizontal in strong winds, I've noticed the bright shiny disc on my cars will oxidise in seconds when the rain water driven sideways reaches them even tucked away well under the car. Even though I try to rotate the use of my cars, rust on brakes still occurs and I notice a pad shape outline in the rust area of the discs. When the rear calipers are an efficiency advisory on the MoT sheet, invariably the exposed part of the caliper piston is corroded which stops smooth application and release of brakes.

Lack of use can also harm other components. Long term storage, even in a dry garage over along period can see water pumps seize their shafts and than can be disastrous for engines sometimes on start up.

I now try to start and move such cars to keep fluids moving and components active. That reduces the chances of lack of use problems which can affect just about any component on a car.

[Sheepshanks]

I sometimes don't use my Merc for 3 weeks at a time (at 3 weeks I make a point of taking it for a run).

I leave it in Park with the parking brake off - indeed after I stop on the drive and put it into Park it rolls back a bit which I hope would release the brake pads a little. The discs look horrendous after a couple of days and the brakes release with a heck of clunk.

The discs clean up very quickly in use, and the only problem (over 10 years) was a few years ago at MOT they reported the discs were pitted - I guess the deeper rust doesn't get rubbed off and continues to eat away at the disc.

I have seen cars were the rust sets in and creeps across the disc to the extent that they fail MOT on the brake test.

[22Rgt]

gazza285 said:

Vipers said:

This cost me a grand on the Volvo. The shoes used to be riveted on, (apparantly), now they are glued. One of mine came off and jammed on top of the other one.

This scored the inside of the drum. Not being into DIY, took it in for repair, just a tad over a grand.

Not sure if it's the same problem as yours.

Pants down there, £150 tops for genuine Volvo bits and an hours work. Scored drums don't matter on a Volvo, they are only used for the handbrake, a quick cleanup and they would be ok to use again.

Pulled all the way down, shafted and then wedgied more like. £30 from ECP and an hours labour. £920 too much..