ST184 Brake Issues

[eViLoNe]

Last night while on the motorway, I noticed a slight shake to my steering wheel, wasn't to worried about this at first, but once I got to the off ramp I wanted to take, I applied my brakes, and noticed a massive shuddering throughout the car.

Once I had to start driving again, I noticed the front left brake was slightly stuck, causing the car more work to get moving, also noticed on a slight hill, the car wouldn't roll backwards before moving forwards as it normally does.

Once I got home I went to check the brakes but the entire alloy wheel was red hot to touch, I actually burnt my hand on the bloody thing. I'm assuming the front left brake is sticking to the disc, but thats where I'm stumped. The problem seemed to begin slightly when I got the outter CV boot replaced, but has progressively gotten worse.

What course of action would you recommend? I'm going to try to get a brake bleed done when I get home from work, but I don't think that will be to successful.

Ideas?

[Crucible]

Three possible causes, either its holding residual pressure in that line, a caliper slide is seized or the caliper seal is stuffed and req caliper kit.

crack the bleed nipple on that corner then spin the wheel if its still binding then check the slides, if they arent siezed then price up a caliper kit through BNT.

[rollaholic]

brake line clamp left on that line?

[eViLoNe]

Took a quick look at lunch time, and somehow the cap on the master cylinder had become only semi on. So I fixed that, but I doubt thats gonna be the cause of my problems.

Cheers for the advise, I'll try that with the bleeding nipple when I get home.

[eViLoNe]

Leaning towards a screwed brake caliper and possibly a warped disk. Going to replace the caliper in the next few days, and see how it goes. Possibly get the disk machined if it's still being a bastard after that..

[Bling]

Could always get the caliper looked at / rebuilt.

Unless you have a spare just lying around i'd take off both calipers and get them checked out. Might not cost too much but at least you will know they are good condition then.

The heat may have damaged the pad/disc too..

[Lloyd]

Doing a CV boot shouldn't have involved anything to do with the brakes.

As said, it sounds like its dragging a pad. Try to bleed a bit of fluid out of the bleed nipple and see if it release at all. If no then pop the bottom bolt off the caliper and swing it up. Make sure the top and bottom slides are free enough. If so, see if the piston pushes back in nicely (big pliers). If it moves a little bit happily enough then use a screwdriver and pull the boot around the piston back and see if any fluid comes out (wouldn't likely hold a caliper on, though its a sign of wear inside).

Is it only that one wheel? None of the other are dragging at all?

[eViLoNe]

Doing a CV boot shouldn't have involved anything to do with the brakes.

As said, it sounds like its dragging a pad. Try to bleed a bit of fluid out of the bleed nipple and see if it release at all. If no then pop the bottom bolt off the caliper and swing it up. Make sure the top and bottom slides are free enough. If so, see if the piston pushes back in nicely (big pliers). If it moves a little bit happily enough then use a screwdriver and pull the boot around the piston back and see if any fluid comes out (wouldn't likely hold a caliper on, though its a sign of wear inside).

Is it only that one wheel? None of the other are dragging at all?

Yeah, only the left front wheel is causing the problem. I tried to bleed a little bit of fluid from that wheel last night, didn't seem to make much of a difference. I'll try what you recommended after work though, cheers.

[rollaholic]

i know i made a laughing face but are you sure the line hasnt been crimped? you might be able to push fluid past the crimp with booster assistance, but its tight enough that its not able to return, thus leaving that caliper on.

the caliper being siezed is alot more likely, but its odd for it to start right after someone has been working on the car.

the master cylinder lid being half off could mean someone was putting brake fluid in it, while bleeding the brakes because foolish apprentice undid a brake line doing CV boot... im sure you can see where im going with this.

[eViLoNe]

Yeah, definitely no crimp on the line, I checked all this last night, along with cracking the bleed nipple and letting a bit of fluid drop out while spinning disk. I didn't really let to much drop out though, I may try and let a little more flow out.

I'm going to double check all the things mentioned when I get home tonight though, and possibly do a entire bleed of the system. I'd rather not have to replace a caliper if it's not needed .

[eViLoNe]

Ripped the caliper half off and compressed the piston slightly, the slides seem sweet, once the caliper was back on, got in and applied brakes and seems the piston is pushing to hard up against the back pad again.. Argh!

[Lloyd]

Are you 100% sure its only that wheel dragging? Have you checked rears?

If its just that one then its probably a sticky piston. If its that and one rear (likely the opposite side) then its more likely a master cylinder issue. See if you can find a different caliper to try on it from a wrecker or someone on here

[eViLoNe]

Are you 100% sure its only that wheel dragging? Have you checked rears?

If its just that one then its probably a sticky piston. If its that and one rear (likely the opposite side) then its more likely a master cylinder issue. See if you can find a different caliper to try on it from a wrecker or someone on here

Yeah, it's only the front left. I've checked out the rears and they're not problematic at all. I'm gunna try and pick up a 2nd hand caliper from Pick A Part on Saturday, and see how that is. I can possibly get a new one from a mate at Autolign, but I'd rather check a 2nd hand one first.