Locked brakes

[fast1]

Hi people just about to drive off in the car woudent go now where, brakes are locked how do i release them she has been idle for about 3 weeks?

[tail slide]

Almost certain to pads gripped by rust on the disc - happens when parked if discs are wet. Normally releases as you drive off, but can grip more tightly if left for some weeks. IMO, try a bit harder, slipping clutch a bit to stop engine stalling!

[GreenV8S]

Handbrake off, stamp the brakes hard then release, into first or reverse gear and pull away firmly with moderate revs. Remember that if/when you succeed the car is going to shoot off so make sure you have somewhere to go in the direction you are trying to move, and be prepared to stop immediately. If it doesn't release after two or three attempts, don't keep trying; all you'll do is cook the clutch or break something.

[maddog-uk]

I actually park mine with the handbreak off when I leave it for any length of time and out of gear but them my garage is 100% flat.

[targarama]

maddog-uk said:

I actually park mine with the handbreak off when I leave it for any length of time and out of gear but them my garage is 100% flat.

Same here, the handbrake is never on.

Hope you get it loosened up. If not, are you in the AA/RAC etc? Get them to come out and fix it for you

[chris watton]

I never leave my handbrake on also, apart from times like this;



But poor Chan's already had to have the handbrake adjusted twice on her car!!!

(Just had a 3 car mega clean, I only seemed to do mine though, Chan did the other two!!! )

[puckrup]

Been searching thread for a solution. Same thing happened to Sag yesterday. Had been left in garage for a week after being washed. Discs do rust up and normally it takes a little rpm to rock car as brakes do sieze on even with handbrake off. Not normally a problem however this time NSF completely siezed, so much as no movement forward or back.

Garage floor newly painted so difficult for tyre to get full grip. Ended up driving car about 2 metres forward until tyre reached lock block outside and managed to get grip to release brake. Not pleasant, rear wheels also struggling for grip and car did go slightly sideways. Not ideal in confined garage space.

So question is how can you prevent this happening in the future (dry disks or run car after wash?) and is there a better way to release brakes? How would RAC solve this, can you for example spray any solution onto siezed pads?

N

[VARLEYHYD]

puckrup said:

So question is how can you prevent this happening in the future (dry disks or run car after wash?)
N

Had this problem when I first had the Sag;

Before I put the car in the garage, I just go up and down the drive a coulpe of times to dry out

Never a problem now.

G

[tail slide]

VARLEYHYD said:

puckrup said:

So question is how can you prevent this happening in the future (dry disks or run car after wash?)
N

Had this problem when I first had the Sag;

Before I put the car in the garage, I just go up and down the drive a coulpe of times to dry out

Never a problem now.

G

What G said.

Found the same over the years with other quick cars that had fairly exposed large brake discs.

[puckrup]

So a conversion to drum brakes is out of the question then

N

[cramorra]

Ow some carefully applied brake cleaner- around the break pads and behind (beware paintwork and alloys!!!!) may do the trick- leave to work 15 min or so

[VARLEYHYD]

cramorra said:

Ow some carefully applied brake cleaner- around the break pads and behind (beware paintwork and alloys!!!!) may do the trick- leave to work 15 min or so

Careful on the rear calipers it will take the plating off!

G

[puckrup]

cramorra said:

Or some carefully applied brake cleaner

Never thought of that, have a canister left over from when I painted the Tuscan calipers. Will bear that in mind... Tks N