Brakes seizing after a week vacation

[newprot5fan]

Hey all!

WEnt to Vancouver for a week and left my car in Calgary parked at my buddy's place in his driveway (inclined so I put it in 1st and had the e-brake on).

Came back to use it and I released the brake and something was not letting me move. It took a VERY long time of some painful noises to get me going again. I just had my right rear caliper replaced and now after all of what happened, the pads are now not contacting the outer rotor as well. However, the majority of the noise was coming from the left rear wheel (the mostly stuck trying to get moving noise)

Is this the ebrake or is this an actual caliper issue? Is there anything I can do to prvent it from happeneing again?

Thanks!

 

[Crazee D]

I go thru calipers like crazy

 

[bucksatan]

If I am going to park it for a while I make sure that I leave the parking brake off so that the pads don't have a chance to rust onto the rotors.

 

[newprot5fan]

If I am going to park it for a while I make sure that I leave the parking brake off so that the pads don't have a chance to rust onto the rotors.

Is that what happened? Since I had the caliper replaced and ebrakes adjusted I am just making sure it had nothing to do with any of that.

If that was what it was, is there anything I should do or get checked out?

 

[bucksatan]

^I have no idea if that is what happened to you, I am just going from my personal experience.

 

[newprot5fan]

^I have no idea if that is what happened to you, I am just going from my personal experience.

It probably isn't the same things since it happened again last night (ebrake was on only for a night and it didn't rain) and again when I went to move it was VERY slow but not as bad as it was before, but this time there was no grinding or anything and everything returned to normal pretty quick as opposed to about 20 minutes the lfirst time. I doubt a brake is dragging because things are fine once I get driving.

I am taking it in on Monday. Hopefully the ebrake is just stiff or something

 

[IslandP5]

It probably isn't the same things since it happened again last night (ebrake was on only for a night and it didn't rain) and again when I went to move it was VERY slow but not as bad as it was before, but this time there was no grinding or anything and everything returned to normal pretty quick as opposed to about 20 minutes the lfirst time. I doubt a brake is dragging because things are fine once I get driving.

I am taking it in on Monday. Hopefully the ebrake is just stiff or something

I've an auto so I rarely use the hand brake. But I know I've experienced what you are saying. I had to park in a parkade for a week and since I was on an incline I used the hand brake. When I got back the brakes made the most horrific screaming I've ever heard. My sister's 3 experienced the same thing after leaving it in the outside lot at Moncton Airport for 3 weeks.

Doesn't really matter if it rained. A cool and damp night is all it takes to get a little rust to form. Usually works itself out after a bit of driving. If it keeps up then it is time to worry. But good plan on taking it in for a looksee.

 

[newprot5fan]

I've an auto so I rarely use the hand brake. But I know I've experienced what you are saying. I had to park in a parkade for a week and since I was on an incline I used the hand brake. When I got back the brakes made the most horrific screaming I've ever heard. My sister's 3 experienced the same thing after leaving it in the outside lot at Moncton Airport for 3 weeks.

Doesn't really matter if it rained. A cool and damp night is all it takes to get a little rust to form. Usually works itself out after a bit of driving. If it keeps up then it is time to worry. But good plan on taking it in for a looksee.

It's weird because there was abosultely no noise today but it was still semi-stuck. The first time as described above wasn't even a screaming or screeching, it was more of a grinding (not high pitched at all).

I had no trouble like this before a new caliper was put on in the rear, and it has happened twice in 3 days.....I can't get it in until Monday so I have no idea if I am making it worse each morning when I am trying to loosen things up...

 

[newprot5fan]

well, I narrowed the problem down a bit.

This morning, the same thing happened. When I released the e-brake, it almost felt like there wasn't any resistance at all (way to easy to move) and I still could barely get the car moving. I decided to drive it around the parking lot and back to my spot. The rear passenger side (where I had the new caliper put on), was cold, the other side was freakin' hot! So at least I know it is the driver's side.

Again, after a while, it frees up and seems to be fine. Does this seem to be a caliper issue or a weird e-brake issue. After it gets back to normal, the e-brake feels normal when pulling it and releasing it.


Any ideas? I am taking it to my mechanic MOnday...
Thanks!

 

[wiprotege5]

Same exact problem. The Driver side rear disk locked up on me. I pushed the pads apart and sprayed some WD-40 on the situation. I hope it works. But I really want to know whats going on too.

 

[mazdaspeed777]

You might have a problem with the pistons on the calliper. They may have seezed up some how. Try taking the calliper off. Take a clamp with one side of the clamp on the back side of the caliper piston and the other half of the clamp on the actual calliper piston. Then tighten the clamp. The piston of the caliper should retract back into the calliper without to much effort. This is the same process you would do if you were changing your break pads. Then put the calliper back on and go on a drive. Get some speed and then stomp on the breaks to get the pistons back in place. If your still having the same problems after that you might want to check your break fluid to see if its low or leaking. Let me know if any of that helps. Good luck! Dan

 

[newprot5fan]

Well, had the mechanic look at it since it seemed my e-brake was sticking on.

He said the ebrake part of the caliper is sticking. He took it apart , cleaned and greased it and said it is working better but it will probably still stick down the road. He said eventually I will need a new caliper.

Does that sound about right? Can only the ebrake part of a caliper seize or stick? and if so, do I need a whole new caliper?

Thanks!