Brakes Binding

[Hamish]

Evenin' all,

Quick query about brakes. Noticed mine were pulling quite strongly to the right today under even light to moderate braking. Then noticed that the car wouldn't coast freely any more running up to traffic lights etc, would slow down more rapidly than expected, and not roll back at all on a slight incline.

I did a total of about 3 hours driving at high motorway speeds. Began to suspect binding brakes, so when I got out at home, checked each wheel :

- front drivers side; disc too hot to touch, wheel hot but easily touchable, clean
- rear drivers side; disc hot but touchable, wheel cool and clean
- rear pass side; as for rear drivers side
- front pass side; could hardly approach it, radiating like a 3 bar fire! Disc too hot to go near, entire alloy wheel too hot to touch, wheel nut cover hanging off for some reason, entire wheel covered in black brake dust.

Car is '96, still original bits as far as I am aware. I haven't changed out any components except pads in the 10 years I've had it.

A few questions then :

- any thoughts on cause? and remedial action?
- will the extreme heat have damaged anything? Fluid ok?
- clearly front passenger side binding, but why is drivers side hot too?

Cheers in advance!

[Harrytsg]

Extreme heat can cause the brake fluid to 'boil'.

The simplest part to go wrong is the slider mechanism that forms the caliper, worth checking, easily (and usually) cheaply remedied with a wire brush

[Hamish]

Cheers Harry. Had hot brakes before but nothing like this. Anything in the hub area must have taken a proper cooking.

[peaktorque]

The OSF on mine was binding, the rubber seal perished which lead to the calliper piston.

You can by refurb kits, but mine ended up in the bin - as I did the 887/888 brake upgrade.

[SwanJack]

I'm currently going through this with my daily driver and in this case, the rubber in the brake hose has started to break down which is causing the caliper piston to stick. It will slowly release, but not quick enough to prevent the pads from staying on the disk, which then heats up. I had so much smoke I thought my pads were on fire. New hoses, a caliper refurb and new brake fluid currenlty being done.

[Hamish]

OK cheers for info. Probably overdue for a refurb, reckon I'll do the hoses at the same time. Seen a few online; HEL, ACT, Goodridge, any recommendations?

[peaktorque]

I used Hel