Binding brakes....

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rob-81
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Binding brakes....

Post by rob-81 »

I know this was recently discussed (June I think) but can anybody offer any advice?

My recently bought BX seems to have binding front brakes. On the way home yesterday I thought I could hear a slight squeak from the brakes on ocassions but today the brakes are very obviously binding. Having read the previous discussion, I wonder whether the handbrake tensioning mechanism is at fault. Can anybody offer me an order of things to check to try to find the cause?

Thanks,

Rob

Edit: I forgot to say that the car had new pads and disks in the last 1000 miles
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DavidRutherford
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Post by DavidRutherford »

How much handbrake lever movement do you have before the handbrake is on?

If it's "almost nothing" then there is your problem. If it's "plenty" then you've probably got sticking caliper sliders.
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Way2go
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Re: Binding brakes....

Post by Way2go »

rob-81 wrote:
Edit: I forgot to say that the car had new pads and disks in the last 1000 miles
Did you install the pads in the right position? Two are plain pad backs that fit caliper side and two are notched(raised) which must fit to the cylinder side. If you fit the plain pads to the cylinder then you will not have the right clearance, they will rub as the cylinder is free to rotate continuously and this also impairs the automatic handbrake adjustment.
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rob-81
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Post by rob-81 »

Thanks for those replies. I'll check it out tonight after work and see. The handbrake does seemto operate on the first few clicks though...

thanks,

Rob
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DLM
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Post by DLM »

Might also be worth checking that the handbrake cables are adjusted equally: did you make any adjustment to the handbrake cables at the brake end? Are the two yokes under the handbrake/height-lever centre console equally adjusted (i.e. same length of cable to each side of the yoke and hence ends of yoke perfectly parallel with a line running across the centre of the car from side to side)? If the cables are unequal lengths then it can cause problems.

On the other hand, nearly all the BXs I've owned have been prone to front brake noise, thought not necessarily binding. It doesn't take much: a stone, some road dirt, and also if the consistent 1mm pad gap hasn't been left to allow the "automatic" manual handbrake adjustment, then funnies can follow.
Back on two wheels and pedal power for the moment.
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DavidRutherford
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Post by DavidRutherford »

Sounds suspiciously like you may have the same issue I had.

When you stand hard on the brakes, everything squeezes up a bit too much, and the handbrake adjuster mechanism is adjusting up. When everthing tries to "relax" when you take your foot off the brake, the handbrake mechanism doesn't have enough free play to accommodate the movement, and as such stays on a bit.

You can prove this by doing the following:

Remove the brake pads, and wind the piston back in a bit. Reassemble. Do NOT stand hard on the brake pedal to push the pads into place, just gently enough to make it all move back together.

Now drive the car, using the brakes gently. Handbrake seem fine? Brake a few times normally. Handbrake still OK?

Now, come to a stop, and with the handbrake off, apply the brakes hard (full system pressure). Still got a handbrake? or has it adjusted up so far that you've got no movement left?

It's noticeable that as my pads wear, the effect of doing this is becoming progressively less, which indicates that the pads are too soft, and the more of them I wear away, the less of a problem they are.

Do you know what make of brake pads you fitted?
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rob-81
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Post by rob-81 »

Thanks David and DLM. I don't know what make pads they are - the previous owner had them changed for the MOT earlier this year (and the disks). I think I saw reference to handbrake cable change as well around the same time.

I think the best thing for me to do is book itn in at my specialist for a quick once over when they do the cam belt.

Cheers,

Rob
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