Front caliper query
- cauchoiskev
- BXpert
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Front caliper query
Alceste just passed the (French) MOT. Hurray !
However, I had to bodge the handbrake by fully adjusting for slack at the caliper. The auto-adjust mechanism has never worked on this car, left and right sides seem to be identical.
Looking at the construction of a caliper, I had thought maybe the washer springy things under the rubber hood might be shot, but on inspection they seem A-OK.
So the only alternative seems to be the ratchet mechanism itself, i.e. the bits inside the piston.
Has anybody opened up a front piston, or had this type of problem ? It's no big deal, but I would like to solve it...
However, I had to bodge the handbrake by fully adjusting for slack at the caliper. The auto-adjust mechanism has never worked on this car, left and right sides seem to be identical.
Looking at the construction of a caliper, I had thought maybe the washer springy things under the rubber hood might be shot, but on inspection they seem A-OK.
So the only alternative seems to be the ratchet mechanism itself, i.e. the bits inside the piston.
Has anybody opened up a front piston, or had this type of problem ? It's no big deal, but I would like to solve it...
Re: Front caliper query
I'd be tempted to try bleeding the pressure reservoir ie slackening the regulator screw etc and getting rid of any air. Then bleeding both front brakes, it may well be a little bit of air is trapped in the caliper. Fairly simple to do and definitely worth a try.
- JayW
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Re: Front caliper query
Are you aware that it's customary to need to apply hard pressure to the pedal several times (as in emergency stop style) for them to adjust?
I have zero patience for your tedium.
- Jaba
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Re: Front caliper query
Well, I have had his problem too. I have opened up the recalcitrant caliper and reassembled it with no benefit.
I have concluded that it is just simpler to replace the failing caliper with an eBay one and then move to the next thing.
I have concluded that it is just simpler to replace the failing caliper with an eBay one and then move to the next thing.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- cauchoiskev
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Re: Front caliper query
The brakes themselves work fine, no air in the pipes, only the handbrake gives problems. I have repeatedly tried the pedal/lever manipulation to get the thing adjusting, no dice. I also screwed the pistons in as far as possible, hoping that would free up the mechanism.
@Jaba, did you dismantle the internals of the piston itself ie the ratchet mechanism ? Nothing looked amiss ? TBH, I find it difficult to imagine what could fail, as it's all permanently drowned in LHM...
@Jaba, did you dismantle the internals of the piston itself ie the ratchet mechanism ? Nothing looked amiss ? TBH, I find it difficult to imagine what could fail, as it's all permanently drowned in LHM...
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- BXpert
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Re: Front caliper query
I had exactly the same problem last year and it hasn't gone away. I put a thread up about it and although I got some useful advice it didn't solve the problem in that I was advised NOT to take up the excess slack on the caliper arms, but unless you do this there is no other way to remove this slack. I have measured the cables inners and outers and they seem to be perfectly within parameters. So obviously we are missing something. I have tried the usual pedal stamping but it had no effect whatsoever.
Re: Front caliper query
Hi Folks,
I think that I have replied with this suggestion before, but can't find it, so here it goes again:
There is a small spring that resides inside the piston that sometimes breaks,
the protruding piece of this spring sheers off.
If this happens, then the handbrake will not adjust.
I will see if I can take a picture to help..
Cheers
I think that I have replied with this suggestion before, but can't find it, so here it goes again:
There is a small spring that resides inside the piston that sometimes breaks,
the protruding piece of this spring sheers off.
If this happens, then the handbrake will not adjust.
I will see if I can take a picture to help..
Cheers
Last edited by Brian on Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:36 am, edited 2 times in total.
Visa 17D 1986 192K Sorn
BX 17RD 1986 220K Scrapped 2013 - Too much rust.
BX 17TZD 1992 192K
306 XRDT 1996 175K
BX 17RD 1986 220K Scrapped 2013 - Too much rust.
BX 17TZD 1992 192K
306 XRDT 1996 175K
- Jaba
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Re: Front caliper query
Yes I took it all out. It seems that it is all controlled by the internal spring around the central threaded shaft.cauchoiskev wrote:The brakes themselves work fine, no air in the pipes, only the handbrake gives problems. I have repeatedly tried the pedal/lever manipulation to get the thing adjusting, no dice. I also screwed the pistons in as far as possible, hoping that would free up the mechanism.
@Jaba, did you dismantle the internals of the piston itself ie the ratchet mechanism ? Nothing looked amiss ? TBH, I find it difficult to imagine what could fail, as it's all permanently drowned in LHM...
Mine was not broken as Brian suggests so as I said before dunno.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- cauchoiskev
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Re: Front caliper query
Thanks Brian, I did do a search, but didn't see your post...Brian wrote:Hi Folks,
I think that I have replied with this sugestion before, but here it goes again:
There is a small spring that resides inside the piston that sometimes breaks,
the protruding piece of this spring sheers off.
If this happens, then the handbrake will not adjust.
I will see if I can take a picture to help..
Cheers
That spring does not seem to be included in any repair kit, and is not even shown in the BX parts list. Doesn't sound promising.
Re: Front caliper query
have you tried with the front wheels off, disconnect both cables from the calipers, then start the engine and press very hard on the pedal a few times,
make sure the levers on the calipers are returning to the fully off position, before trying the above,
because the hand brake mechanism canot adjust all the while the lever in pulled on in the slightest, by the cable being over adjusted or the lever sticking up/on at all,
then once its all adjusted up and fully working, periodically whilst at the petrol station, with the engine running and the hand brake off, press hard on the pedal a few times, just to re/adjust the hand brake mechanism,
of course if at some time in the cars life someone had retracted the caliper pistons by just forcing them back,
this will destroy the adjuster mechanism inside the caliper,
regards malcolm
make sure the levers on the calipers are returning to the fully off position, before trying the above,
because the hand brake mechanism canot adjust all the while the lever in pulled on in the slightest, by the cable being over adjusted or the lever sticking up/on at all,
then once its all adjusted up and fully working, periodically whilst at the petrol station, with the engine running and the hand brake off, press hard on the pedal a few times, just to re/adjust the hand brake mechanism,
of course if at some time in the cars life someone had retracted the caliper pistons by just forcing them back,
this will destroy the adjuster mechanism inside the caliper,
regards malcolm
curent ride
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also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
Re: Front caliper query
ps.
here is price and part No. for the caliper internal component overhaul kit
Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
95590796 HANDBRAKE KIT 45.15 GBP 54.18 GBP 54.18 GBP
it does show the springs, which are a series of conical/dished spring steel washers,
which when fitted alternated face's together create the spring
regards malcolm
here is price and part No. for the caliper internal component overhaul kit
Part Number Description Quantity Price excl. VAT Price incl. VAT Total incl. VAT Selection
95590796 HANDBRAKE KIT 45.15 GBP 54.18 GBP 54.18 GBP
it does show the springs, which are a series of conical/dished spring steel washers,
which when fitted alternated face's together create the spring
regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
Re: Front caliper query
Right, I could not find the original picture, so I took another two.
Hope this helps any one who has not completely dismantled a calliper before.
Take care when removing the very strong circlip, "eye protection ".
Also make sure the "Dished Spring Discs" are assembled correctly.
Hope this helps any one who has not completely dismantled a calliper before.
Take care when removing the very strong circlip, "eye protection ".
Also make sure the "Dished Spring Discs" are assembled correctly.
Visa 17D 1986 192K Sorn
BX 17RD 1986 220K Scrapped 2013 - Too much rust.
BX 17TZD 1992 192K
306 XRDT 1996 175K
BX 17RD 1986 220K Scrapped 2013 - Too much rust.
BX 17TZD 1992 192K
306 XRDT 1996 175K
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Re: Front caliper query
At that price you would just buy a recon caliper
Good pictures Brian thanks.
Good pictures Brian thanks.
Kevan
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- cauchoiskev
- BXpert
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Re: Front caliper query
Yes, fantastic pictures, thanks. The spring looks sturdy enough, surely it must be broken by abuse rather than wear ?
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Re: Front caliper query
I've got a couple of those recon kits (95590796) which I found NOS a while back, and although they have the dished spring washers, they don't seem to have the thrust (ball bearing) washer or the spring that's shown in Brian's photo....
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