Binding brakes. Rusty calipers?

[Garlick]

Noticed that the brakes on my 1.8 stick slightly (when I tried to roll down a hill to avoid starting the car).

I've had rusting calipers on my previously owned RS2 and 944S2 and wondered if this also affects the MX5? If so, is there an easy fix or is it costly replacement?

Thanks v much

[Oldandslow]

They can do just like any other. The rears are more prone to sticking from my experience. You can clean up the pad guides and slider pins and this will sometimes sort it but if the pistons are sticking and pitted then you need new or refurbed.

[Sbloxxy]

MX5s are really prone to sticking rear brakes and the cause is often down to the handbrake mechanism. The lever on the back of each caliper is perfectly postioned to attract all the road muck and often, after even a relatively short period of no use, it can seize. The answer is to remove the handbrake cable from the caliper end (do one side at a time)and then work the handbrake lever on the rear of the caliper back and forth. Sometimes this involves encouraging it with a big hammer while using lots of penetrating oil. You need to see that the lever will return all by its self simply under the pressure of the return spring. When its working nicely, lubricate the hell out of the mechanism and you should have no further problems.

[S7Paul]

As said above, the rears can give problems. There's a fiddly adjuster on the back of each caliper, and these often seize and/or get the heads rounded off.

My daughter's 2002 1.8 had a binding front brake a while back, which I fixed by stripping the caliper, cleaning it up, and rebuilding it with new seals. Quite an easy job, and the seals aren't too expensive.

[Garlick]

Thanks chaps, handbrake sounds likely as it has sat for a while over recent times.

Will investigate further!

[Rids64]

Had new rear discs and pads fitted recently and the calipers were both knackered, got a refurb pair from Euro Car Parts for about £130 on an exchange basis.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Yes, handbrake binding nearly had the rear of my old '5 in flames!

If I was parking overnight I just left the handbrake off and the car in gear.

[Garlick]

Damn, wish I knew of this! Would have left it in gear...you live and learn eh?

[avocado]

Remember the adjuster is hidden behind a bolt on the back of the caliper. Remove bolt and i think it's a 6 mm hex key.

[MX-5 Lazza]

4mm

[Garlick]

Front left is the issue, had a very slow crawl home on Sat as I had to stop regularly to allow the brake to cool/ throw water on them. Was mid-way through a house move, so nursed it to the new home where it now sits awaiting attention.

Will have to investigate/ fix in a week or so as I'm away this weekend with PH and still have house stuff to sort which takes priority.

Someone has mentioned replacing the seals?

[Oldandslow]

You can dismantle and replace seals yourself. It's not very hard but it's dirty. Last time I got refurbed ones on an exchange basis and there are cheap looking new ones on ebay, no idea of quality.

The seals may be fine. Need to see what is sticking. The pads can jam in the carrier, the slider pins can jam in the caliper or the pistons can jam. Also I've heard of flexi pipes that kink or collapse and don't let the fluid draw back.

If you want to tackle it yourself take the wheel and caliper off. Check that the pads move fairly freely in the guides, check the caliper moves on the slide pins ok and try forcing the piston in, this should take a bit of force but be smooth. Check under dust seals for signs of corrosion, leaking fluid etc.

[S7Paul]

I got a set of seals from MX5parts (as they're local to me). I was half-expecting to need a new caliper, but having stripped the caliper there was no serious corrosion - the piston & bore were fine. I think it was just the build-up of road dirt, etc that had caused it to stick. A good clean-up, new seals & re-grease the sliding pins fixed the problem.

Before you buy any brake parts, check which brakes you've got. The 1.8 Sport has bigger brakes than other 1.8s, but you never know what a previous owner may have fitted by way of an upgrade.