Brakes help! - 306 HDI 2001 - Front RHS calliper sticking

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Hi,

As per subject, front RHS calliper is not completely letting go when I take my foot off the brake pedal. Sometimes it's fine. Makes the disc and wheel hot. It's gripping just enough to bring the car to a stop when rolling on flat ground.

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Needed new pads all round and front rotors resurfacing, so I did that and it hasn't helped.

Any ideas what's going on? Do I need a new capiller or calliper, or is something awry with the hydraulics.


Thanks,
Adam

[tcusack]

There are a few things you could try. Are you capable of removing the caliper yourself?? Did you change the pads and rotors yourself?

Tim

[robmac]

There are a few things you could try. Are you capable of removing the caliper yourself?? Did you change the pads and rotors yourself?

Tim

Dodgy hose with tuberculosis

306s are a bit new to have rusty pistons etc, surely.

[tcusack]

No, I was thinking of removing the calipers, removing and cleaning the slides, re-greasing and reassembling. No need to disconnect the hose, so an easy one man job.

If, however, it has to go to a brake place, they will probably overhaul both front calipers, at a cost. You can't blame them.

Tim

[robmac]

No, I was thinking of removing the calipers, removing and cleaning the slides, re-greasing and reassembling. No need to disconnect the hose, so an easy one man job.

If, however, it has to go to a brake place, they will probably overhaul both front calipers, at a cost. You can't blame them.

Tim

I think you missed my meaning front brake hoses on the RWD pugs have a habit of becoming one way valves. They allow fluid to the caliper but won't allow the fluid to return.

It almost a classic problem on 404/504 hose. It's caused by the hose de-laminating internally and forming a "flapper valve" from the inner neoprene hose.

[djvu205]

other than a caliper overhaul, take 1mm off the surface off the inner pad. sometimes the piston gums up and when driven home to fit new pads in they become sticky. although this may be frowned upon it has worked for me on a few occasions. just make sure you remove the material evenly. i used a marking guage and disc sander with table.

[myshell]

I've had the same trouble on a pug 405. As robmac mentioned; had to replace the flexible brake hose(s) to that wheel.

[Michael M]

What Tcusack said.

Had exactly the same thing happen to one rear brake on my 307. The pads were staying slightly engaged and noisy.

Turned out to be the slide bolts in the caliper. One had siezed (no grease at all), so the caliper was not. Got it out, shined it up with some emery and re-greased. Good as new, all without having to remove the hose.

[JohnT]

What Tcusack said.

Had exactly the same thing happen to one rear brake on my 307. The pads were staying slightly engaged and noisy.

Turned out to be the slide bolts in the caliper. One had siezed (no grease at all), so the caliper was not. Got it out, shined it up with some emery and re-greased. Good as new, all without having to remove the hose.

I agree with Tim and Michael. My 306 S16 had sticking caliper slides and in the case of my car the slides were frozen on the LHS front so that the pads were not gripping fully (as opposed to not releasing - both scenarios can happen) which made for an interesting day at the Marulan Driver Training Centre.

My opinion is that you check to make sure that your caliper slides are working first before looking at other potential problems such as sticking caliper pistons, old flexible hoses etc.

Cheers

John T

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Haven't been on for a while.

Thanks for the replies.

I did some Googling and came to the same conclusions: either the caliper is sticking or the brake hose is acting as a one way valve.

I've only got marine grease in the shed at present, not sure if thats suitable for high temperature applications. And I'm a bit over vehicle mechanics the past few years n just trying to do the stuff where I don't get too dirty =) At the same time, it's difficult to pay someone more than I make per hour to do something I could easily do, so I'm going half way:

I've removed the caliper and am taking it to a brake specialist to have it overhauled. I could easily clean and re-grease the slides myself, and even overhaul the piston o ring n whatever else comes in the reconditioning kit, but I can't be arsed at this point in time as I'm in the process of moving house.

I suppose the brake hose would be a cheaper place to start, but I have a feeling it's the caliper slides.

Fortunately it's not gripping bad enough to have damaged the rotor or pads. Certainly stops a whole lot better with new pads all round and nice flat rotors.

This is my first Peugeot and I'm mighty happy with it, for a car that's done 200,000k it drives like new and nothing rattles on it all. I've had the front and rear suspension rebushed recently, wow did that make a difference!

Thanks!

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Morning!

Well, I woke at 5am n lay in bed pondering. Got up a bit after 6:30 and pull the caliper apart, I'd already pulled it off last night ready to take to brake specialist.

One of the slide bolts was bone dry and surface rusted. Gave both slide bolts a polish with a green kitchen scourer thingo, stuck some marine grease on 'em and reassembled.

Bought a One Person Brake Bleeder yesterday, cos I'm only one person here, work a charm.

Brakes feel way better! It was only grabbing intermittently, but it feels bettter already. I'll let ya'll know how it goes today, it always grabbed at least 60 of the time.

I'll check the marine grease in a few days, might have to buy some high temp grease if it looks like it's failing.

Thanks!

[lmr052]

In Sydney recently, a number of brake shops and Repco had some give away Bendix Hi Temp slider grease sachets. You may be lucky enough to score some - one sachet is enough for 4 calipers.