Suddenly a second Brake Caliper situation

[john west]

My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a
Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently. It didn't cost me anything so
cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.

After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding
noise was coming from the front.

My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was
sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.

I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught
garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was
them trying to hoodwink me.

Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front.
I'm wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a
squirt of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause
another caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?

Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad
news for me at the moment. Thanks for any advice.

[Roger Mills]

Post by john west
My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a
Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently.  It didn't cost me anything so
cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.
After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding
noise was coming from the front.
My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was
sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.
I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught
garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was
them trying to hoodwink me.
Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front.
I'm wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a
squirt of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause
another caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?
Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad
news for me at the moment.  Thanks for any advice.

Was the recall anything to do with the brakes, or completely unrelated?

Seems odd for both calipers to "stick" in quick succession. Assuming
that they're single piston calipers, they need to be free to slide
sideways in order to equalise the force (and wear) on both pads. If this
sliding mechanism slicks, it doesn't necessary need the caliper to be
replaced - simply taking it apart, cleaning it and re-greasing it should
be sufficient. There would still be a labour charge for that, of course
unless - like me - you would do it yourself.

[Fredxx]

Post by john west
My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a
Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently.  It didn't cost me anything so
cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.
After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding
noise was coming from the front.
My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was
sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.

Was it really that bad? Did you check for movement?

Post by john west
I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught
garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was
them trying to hoodwink me.
Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front.
I'm wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a
squirt of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause
another caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?
Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad
news for me at the moment.  Thanks for any advice.

The only time I have heard grinding noise is metal to metal contact,
where the pads have come into contact with the disk, or on one occasion
when I was in a hurry actually put the pad in the wrong way round.

My instinct says that most garages are honest, but you never know.

[RJH]

Post by Fredxx

Post by john west
My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a
Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently. It didn't cost me anything so
cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.
After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding
noise was coming from the front.
My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was
sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.

Was it really that bad? Did you check for movement?

Post by john west
I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught
garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was
them trying to hoodwink me.
Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front.
I'm wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a
squirt of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause
another caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?
Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad
news for me at the moment. Thanks for any advice.

The only time I have heard grinding noise is metal to metal contact,
where the pads have come into contact with the disk, or on one occasion
when I was in a hurry actually put the pad in the wrong way round.

Had what I assume was a stone stuck in the mechanism recently - horrible noise
and took 20 or so miles to dislodge.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Fredxx
The only time I have heard grinding noise is metal to metal contact,
where the pads have come into contact with the disk, or on one occasion
when I was in a hurry actually put the pad in the wrong way round.

Yes. More usual symptom of a sticking caliper is that brake getting very
hot. So smell, or even smoke.

[Biggles]

My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently. It didn't cost me anything so cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding noise was coming from the front.My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was them trying to hoodwink me.Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front. I'm wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a squirt of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause another caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad news for me at the moment. Thanks for any advice.

If it's 20 years old, one possible cause is deteriorating brake
hoses which can act as a one way valve causing the pads to stick
on.

[Nick Finnigan]

Post by john west
My beloved twenty year old motor was entered into a main dealer for a
Manufacturers 'Safety Recall' recently.  It didn't cost me anything so
cannot imagine the garage was overjoyed to get this job.
After collecting the car a couple of days later, a chaffing/grinding noise
was coming from the front.
My local garage (a different garage) said the Front Brake Caliper was
sticking and needed replacing, which i have had done.
I don't like to think i have a suspicious nature, but have twice caught
garage chains telling me i needed work doing which i knew for a fact was
them trying to hoodwink me.

Unless they were almost new, a garage would recommend replacing the pads
on both front wheels when replacing a caliper, and possibly discs too.

Post by john west
Now a week later i have the same kind of noise coming from the front. I'm
wondering is it just bad luck another caliper is sticking or could a squirt
of brake cleaner or similar in the right (or wrong ) place cause another
caliper very conveniently for them to stick ?
Another couple of hundred pounds for yet another caliper would be bad news
for me at the moment.  Thanks for any advice.

I would check the pads and discs for obvious wear. If they look ok, try
an Italian tune up to get some extra heat and pressure in the calipers.