You'll know if you have a seized brake caliper because the vehicle will feel slower than it should, and there might be a burning smell from the affected brake. This is how to diagnose it once and for all, and what you need to do next.
What are the symptoms of a seized brake caliper?
When brakes seize it can be because the piston becomes stuck within the caliper, the pads become stuck to the disc, or on single-piston calipers the slide pins can seize.
If the brakes seize when the vehicle has been unused then the symptoms are fairly obvious – as you try to pull away it feels like the brakes are stuck on!
If it's the piston that's stuck within the caliper the car could well feel down on power (as its fighting against the resistance of the brakes). You may also get uneven braking, with the car pulling to one side.
As you drive, the binding brake will get hot – very hot, and you'll quickly smell the brake linings overheating, and even see the smoke coming off them. It's a distinctive acrid smell. If this occurs, stop!
If you carry on driving not only could the heat cause the brakes to catch on fire, but you will also damage the discs and potentially damage any component connected to the wheel hub.
If it's the slide pins that have seized then the car may appear to drive normally, but the pads will only be pushed onto the disc from the piston side. This will give reduced braking ability, plus wear out the pad on the inside much faster.
Often this is only picked up at MoT time when the brakes are tested and are discovered to be imbalanced.
Discover how to change the front brake pads and rear brake pads on your vehicle!
What causes brakes to seize on?
The main cause of brakes seizing is inactivity. If a vehicle is sitting for a long period of time it's not uncommon for the brakes to seize. This is usually a case of the pads becoming 'stuck' to the disc.
Also bear in mind that brakes are subjected to huge range of temperatures, they're permanently exposed to the elements, and are never serviced in between pad changes. As a result corrosion can build up in key areas and failure occurs.
If it's the rear brakes that are causing problems it may not be the caliper. Sometimes it's the handbrake mechanism that's causing the brakes to remain on. This could be a seized handbrake cable, or the mechanism itself could be corroded and seized.
Brake caliper rebuild vs replace
Even if you free off a sticking caliper there is a high likelihood of it seizing again if it's caused by the piston or slide pins. You could find yourself having to repeatedly dismantle caliper, when it would be more sensible to either rebuild it or replace it entirely.
A rebuild kit is something a competent DIYer can do at home, but it is a bit involved, and you do need to be careful. But as long as the corrosion on the various components isn't too bad, it's worth considering.
You may want to get a second hand caliper and rebuild that with new seals but don't just buy a used caliper and fit it – you've no idea about the condition of it, and it could even be worse than the one you're replacing!
If your budget will stretch to it the simplest option would be to get a brand new caliper! Ultimately it comes down to budget. If you can afford the cost of a new caliper then that's always going to be the wisest option.
