Mondeo mk3 rear calipers

[Yuxi]

Is there anyway to stop the handbrake mechanisms on the above seizing up every 10 months? Even new ones only last a year before seizing.

Any ideas welcome.

[Classic Grad 98]

I've never had handbrake seizure on my mk3, but I suggest removing the calipers, guide pins and the bracket/pad retainers, wind the pistons all the way in (12mm Allen key) and lubricate everything, especially the mating surfaces between the pads and the carriers (this was the problem with mine- needed lots of wire brushing and lots of coppaslip). I say this because all of my problems were because the pads had rusted to the carriers.

[mybrainhurts]

I'm told the rear nearside is a common problem on the estate. I have a good travelling mechanic who can free it up, but had to give in after six years and 345,000 miles and get a new one.

[Nick3point2]

Got to say I never heard of this problem when I was running garages and we used to do a lot of MOT/service work on mk3 mondeos. Are you sure its not your car if even brand new ones only last a short amount of time?

[mr_fibuli]

I have the same problem with mine. I've had my car about 3 years, and I'm on my 3rd set of callipers, which are starting to jam on again.

I think it only affects early cars, they introduced a new design of rear callipers around 2004. I don't know if it is the refurbed callipers I'm using that are especially bad, but I'd hate to find out what Ford charges for a brand new one.

I think it is the handbrake lever on the back of the calliper that jams, not the slides, so might have a go at lubing that - sure I read somewhere that you could free them off for a while with WD40.