Braking Woes

[Giw]

My local garge told me I need new rear calipers on my 2.0 Hdi, coz they're sticking (probably explain why I went through a set of pads in 15k miles ;) )

 

Any ideas where I can get some sensibly priced refurbs as some websites are quoting silly prices. Also, tried to change the pads and disks tonight and failed. :(

 

Hour and a half to get the pin out that hold the pads in (due to me bending it the last time I changed the pads), further half an hour to get the bloody pads out (due to calipers sticking I presume as last time they were much easier to change) and then...

 

the head of the screw that holds the disk on turned to a pointless mush of metal that no socket will grip with one turn! Now what? No disks = no pads = no car. Any ideas how to get the screw out or am I destined to call a mobile mechanic to get the disks off for me?

 

Cheers!!

[techbod]

welcome to the common fault with calipers and disks, sticking calipers are normally down to rust build up and not a failed caliper so a good clean up of moving parts is the way to go and grease the parts where the pads slot in and the bolt that locks the caliper this is a piston so should be greased with copper slip,

the disk screw is a pain and I used an impact screw driver but even these don't help in some cases so drill them out with a thin drill bit so you don't damage the threads or use a reverse drill bit which digs into the screw head and easily available from shops,

when fitting new pads remember the pistons have to be turned back in and compressed at the same time and that's been covered here before,

garage will always say fit new parts because that's the easy way and a money maker for them ;)

 

pistons have to be turned back in assuming the hand break is on the rear and not like the xantia which are on the front

[Jonno]

Just be aware that new rear pads are no where near as thick a friction material as the front pads - probably around half the thickness.

The pistons should screw back into the calipers relatively easily but do need to be pushed in as well - just as techbod said. I used a flat blade screwdriver on mine (on its side in the castellations of the piston) and it worked a treat.

Another way of trying to undo the mangled disc retaining screw is to try moving it with a centre punch to initially release it - failing that drill the head of the screw off and hopefully there should be enough of the screw threads left sticking out once the disc is off to get a pair of molegrips on it.

If you dont manage to get it out all is not lost as the disc is going to be held in place by the wheel bolts anyway - all it means is the disc will have to be aligned with the rear hub flange to screw the bolts in.