Handbrake Seized

[Guest Ridley]

Hi,

 

I have just got a C5, from the auction with FSH, unfortunately the front handbrake mechanism(s) seem to be seized. The cable moves freely and I have been able to remove the cable from the arms on the caliper by hand on both sides and pull the arm back by hand but the springs do not seem to move the arm back. I have called a mechanic who has worked on my Xantia before and he says I will need two new front calipers.

 

Isnt there something I could try to free them up before spending a couple of hundred quid? Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Ridley

[sifaan]

Hi,

 

I have just got a C5, from the auction with FSH, unfortunately the front handbrake mechanism(s) seem to be seized. The cable moves freely and I have been able to remove the cable from the arms on the caliper by hand on both sides and pull the arm back by hand but the springs do not seem to move the arm back. I have called a mechanic who has worked on my Xantia before and he says I will need two new front calipers.

 

Isnt there something I could try to free them up before spending a couple of hundred quid? Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Ridley

 

I had a similar prolem and the garage was able to take it apart and clean/lubricate it (not sure exactly what was done though). I'm supposed to replace a brake piston (corroded) as well as apply the caliper repair kit - until that's done the handbrake has been left disconnected.

(and even after, there is some grime buildup that needs to be cleared regularly - e.g. at service - or will cause seizing again... but this is probably more due to the dusty atmosphere here in Sri Lanka and is probably not an issue in the UK)

[Guest shenden]

Hi,

 

I have just got a C5, from the auction with FSH, unfortunately the front handbrake mechanism(s) seem to be seized. The cable moves freely and I have been able to remove the cable from the arms on the caliper by hand on both sides and pull the arm back by hand but the springs do not seem to move the arm back. I have called a mechanic who has worked on my Xantia before and he says I will need two new front calipers.

 

Isnt there something I could try to free them up before spending a couple of hundred quid? Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Ridley

 

Ummm i have the same problem on my right front wheel as in the hand break. I have not yet done it as its to cold for me because i am a panzy and i hate the cold but i will be having a look at it this weekend. Dont go and buy one just yet let me have a bodge at mine first. I think they are a type of self adjuster for the break pads. In the mean time if you can. Soak it with Plus Gas you can buy it for around 3 pounds from a local car shop. I am not shore if they cant go over on there selves its possible maybe. LMAO only last week i put new pads in maybe thats why its not working. I will ring a Citroen bloke i no tomorrow and see if he has any advice and shout you back

[Guest shenden]

Are you sort of inspired me to have a peek at my own today and as i say the front right handbrake was locked solid. Now i fixed it but in a bodgers way so DONT you do this. Any way i new the piston was all right and no leeks and so on because i put new pads in a couple of weeks ago. So any way i pulled the hand break cable of the hook thing what ever the hell its called and hit it hard with some PLUS GAS and i put a tea towel around the caliper so i did not get any gas on the pads and so on. Then i had a smoke and a cup of tea and set about it again but this time with a hammer mans best friend. But only short soft taps. Then more plus gas and then i got a pair of mans second best friend a pair of mold grips. I gently but firmly gripped the lever beside the spring and began to gently ease back and forward and all the time spraying gas on it but at the same time as pulling and pushing it i gave it a slight push to the right and then to the left and i mean gentle just so the pin in there starts to allow some of the gas in to it and at the same time it will rub the rust or crap of the pin and with in 10 minutes i had a lever that was working real nice. Now on getting this to work i thought i would sit back and have a smoke and celebrate my very own cost free bodge but then i noticed the hand break cable is snapped as in the out side armor of the cable just under the wheel arch were it bolts to the body. I don't like getting under cars any more to replace things so i must think of a bodge for that because it must be a week spot in the cable on every c5 because there is a hell of a bend to get to the caliper and it snapped right on the metal join were it bolts to the floor. I think my bodge for that will consist of a bit of copper pipe or metal pipe split down the middle and wrapped around it with 2 small jub clips. Any way i have no option but to do that because i am skint. But what i did do was before i put the wheel back on i sprayed copper slip on that hand break caliper leaver and then shot it down the cable. Its a bodge but it works and it will do until i get more money.

[coastline taxis]

We have in the past had a 50% sucsess rate with siezed calipers by leaving them in a bucket of brake fluid overnight and then gently playing with the lever. But we stopped doing this when we found out that the local discount store can supply them for £60

[Guest shenden]

We have in the past had a 50% sucsess rate with siezed calipers by leaving them in a bucket of brake fluid overnight and then gently playing with the lever. But we stopped doing this when we found out that the local discount store can supply them for £60

 

That sounds cheep enough to me and there a peace of cake to fit

[coastline taxis]

absolute doddle to fit. phoned our local scrappy the other day and a caliper for a c5 is £10 so its just not worth farting about with

[milpol1]

absolute doddle to fit. phoned our local scrappy the other day and a caliper for a c5 is £10 so its just not worth farting about with

 

Just paid, yesterday 190 smakers for right calipers to be changed and a new one fitted,,,,,,,ouch