So, I’m having a ponder whilst waiting for recovery. The brakes went on my ‘77 Westy as I came off the A1. Straight to the floor! Furious pumping got me to a stop without crashing and for the next few mins driving to a safer place there was still no brakes at all unless multiple pumps. No leaks whatsoever and seemingly all fine when I left home. After further inspection the NS front wheel was nuclear hot! So I’m thinking that the calliper was dragging and I boiled the fluid??? I’ve been here 30 mins the wheel is now very very hot but cooler and the brakes are back. Am I correct that that sort of overheat would totally kill the brakes and that either calliper OH will sort it or would I be better buying new callipers? The callipers on it now are OG The bus is my daily Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sounds like a sticking brake calliper has boiled your brake fluid. Depending on the condition of the calliper you can either rebuild or replace and you also need to replace the brake fluid
Nasty , everyones nightmare ... Your prognosis seems what i`d assume too , caliper sticking on one wheel causing the fluid to boil . I`d expect it to pull towards the `bad` wheel for some time prior to failure though - nothing like that ??
I've had that on the back brakes whilst on M6 - binding shoes smoke from the wheel - frantic waving from passing cars -came off at next exit only a mile or two - then no brakes. I had the RAC out and he took the drums off and cleaned them out - rust mainly and all has been well ever since . Front calipers will be different in that the pads may be stuck on as the piston is not retracting properly - so may not be a quick fix
The very nice man and I removed said NS front wheel. Still slight drag Still warm Blue disc Inner pad equal wear with other calliper Outside pad about an 1/8” left! There has been no noticeable drag to the left probably due to only one piston sticking. Now at least I know the issue. I’d rather keep OG callipers on it though as I’m thinking they’re better quality that reproductions?? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just chip off all the rust and reassemble. Once the pads can rattle around again you are good to go. Now it has been fried, change both discs when you change the pads, its not hard to do.
Lucky escape. I’d change the fluid (if it boiled that easily, may have a lot of moisture in it) and the discs. The Brazilian ATE calipers are fine if you want to change those as well.
If the wheel bearing grease that side is rust coloured that is often a sign the bearing needs replacing where the steel is flaking off the bearing and oxidizing. This can show before the bearing starts rumbling or whining.
All comments taken aboard I’m going New discs (pair) Pads (pair) Callipers (pair) Plus taking the opportunity to have Goodrich braided hoses fitted (bought off TLB!) New fluid throughout. GSF do an exchange calliper, is that going to be OG? If so is that the best to go for or the “high quality”?? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As said, consider new wheel bearing as the extreme heat would have melted away the grease and damaged the bearing as well, happened to my mgb when calliper stuck and make sure you change the brake fluid while you do everything else.
I'd send your calipers off to BiggRed to be rebuilt. They did a cracking job on mine and powder coated them too - about half the price of new but better as they are OG.
Is the £160 with you including postage? Also can you remember how long the turn around was? My bus is my daily so down time is a massive factor. So far shopping list with the gsf 60% off is £199 for Pair of discs (top quality) 1 calliper (chosen the exchange as apparently og) Set of pads Free delivery fix the bus then £30 back on exchange making £169. I’m considering buying a pair of callipers also the bearings the shopping list is the bare minimum. I haven’t ordered yet just shopping around. GSF’s hiked prices with 60% off beats VeeWee’s lower prices with the 15% off Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
