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Seized front offside brake caliper

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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 12:03 PM
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Default Seized front offside brake caliper

MPG has been slightly lower, performance seemed to be less and few noises when pulling away. Added to this seemed to be more brake dust that usual on alloys. Jacked the car up and the wheel will barely moved - been advised this is most likely a seized caliper.

Looking for some help! How can i confirm the problem? any easier fix other than new discs pads rotors calipers etc etc

any help would be appreciated.

thanks
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Old Apr 9, 2012 | 01:12 PM
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You should be able to push the brake pad back with very little effort using a screwdriver as a lever. Just watch out that the brake-fluid reservoir does not overflow.

If you cant budge the pads back, then you have a stuck caliper problem. With FWD and AWD the front wheels have a drag.

Salim
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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 03:01 PM
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cant move the pad - looks like a stuck caliper. any ideas?
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Old Apr 10, 2012 | 05:22 PM
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The problem can be in the slide pins or stuck piston. Time to take the caliper off. Slide pins can be cleaned and the slave cylinder can be rebuilt with a kit. The other option would be to buy the caliper.

Remember to flush out the old brake fluid in the lines and the slave cylinder.

Salim
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Old Apr 14, 2012 | 04:58 PM
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I had a stuck caliper once, I took both brake pads and place them in the caliper (off the rotor) then stepped on the brakes in the car, caliper piston poped out all the way and was easily pushed back in without any issues. Drove 20,000 miles till I sold the car without any problems.
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Old Apr 14, 2012 | 06:28 PM
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If the piston movement is stuck, one can remove the caliper and use the hydraulic force, BUT, you need to make sure that the piston dose not travel too far and come out of the cylinder, If it does, then service the piston.

Salim

Last edited by salimshah; Apr 14, 2012 at 06:38 PM.
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