Help Needed With Brakes?

[christopher.cross]

Hi Members .
Please can anyone advise me on a course of action re my 85 sec 380 coupe. I have recently changed the front pads (It was hard to prise the pistons back) and the car brakes fine but It seems to take a few mins for normal action? On first entering the car and moving off the brake pedal shudders a bit and I have to push hard for normal braking . Now this car sat for years on the Isle of man and salt corrosion is in evidence in places and I think the left side calliper is in need of changing?? Or is it possible to give the old calliper a good clean ect?The brakes screech a bit as well (mainly from the same side as dodgy calliper) I put plenty of copper grease but to no avail! however 80% no screeching.. I have no fluid loss and so I really do suspect the drivers side calliper is sticking??? any advice would be gratefully received. lastly one thing that really drives me mad is water comes down the drivers front windscreen pillar when it rains heavily and I really can't fathom out how its getting in? My sunroof seems to close tightly and all rubber seams are in good order??? Any idears Please??
many thanks Chris

 

[television]

I would try some PTFE or silicon on the pistons, its none drying and safe,it must be worth a try. If you have some well worn pads it would be better to do it with them in so that the pistons are a long way out

 

[brandwooddixon]

Brake squeel has been noted with nonMB pads.

You may be able to service the caliper. Did you change the fluid? If it's been sat for a long time you may have pushed some crap back into the master cylinder.

There is a thread on here which gives a link to a company which will stock calipers for your car.

The drain channel for the sunroof may be blocked, the seals always leak a little. Test with careful use of a hose pipe.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

If your vehicle has been sat idle for month's-year's? the braking system need's a strip down and overhaul IMO. There will be water and gunge sitting in those calipers, plus a crust of rust around the outer edge of the disk which I would want to remove with a file, also old disk's need to be roughed up with wet&dry to allow the new pad's to bed in, known as glaze busting. As Malcolm said the exposed pistons may be suffering frm corrosion.....etc
Are they Sliding Caliper's on a Carrier mounted to the stub axle or twin piston's?
I like to have confidence that my brakes will stop the vehicle when everybody suddenly slams on during the rush hour on the motorwayfor example.......................?

 

[FIBAMAN]

Sunroof Leak

Christopher, have you checked that the sunroof drains are not blocked.
It is technically difficult to seal the aperture for the sunroof so a certain amount of water ingress in that area can be expected, therefore there are usually drain holes to allow any water to escape freely.
If these become blocked then the well area under the sunroof can fill up and it will find another way to escape.

 

[christopher.cross]

Thanks .

I would try some PTFE or silicon on the pistons, its none drying and safe,it must be worth a try. If you have some well worn pads it would be better to do it with them in so that the pistons are a long way out

Many thanks television I will try your idear out as soon as I possibly can ?

kind regards Chris

 

[christopher.cross]

If your vehicle has been sat idle for month's-year's? the braking system need's a strip down and overhaul IMO. There will be water and gunge sitting in those calipers, plus a crust of rust around the outer edge of the disk which I would want to remove with a file, also old disk's need to be roughed up with wet&dry to allow the new pad's to bed in, known as glaze busting. As Malcolm said the exposed pistons may be suffering frm corrosion.....etc
Are they Sliding Caliper's on a Carrier mounted to the stub axle or twin piston's?
I like to have confidence that my brakes will stop the vehicle when everybody suddenly slams on during the rush hour on the motorwayfor example.......................?

<Many thanks for the advice i will put it into practise.
Regards chris

 

[wireman]

The calipers should be serviced since they are OLD. If you can get new pistons, seals and dust seals they should be fairly easy to service. Get the things off the car and very clean before you dismantle them in a clean environment.
It is common for corrosion to occur on the pistons where they are exposed on the "outside world" end of their walls, this lifts the chrome plating and can make them jam in the bore of the caliper, the pistons cannot be refurbished.
A jammed piston could be very dangerous, if it sticks on the brakes will over heat, if it sticks in the brake will not work untill suficient pressure is applied and the the brake may jam on or lock the wheel resulting in loss of control of the car.
I would try to find a new pair of calipers and be safe. Total loss of fluid (and hence brakes) can also be associated with duff calipers.

 

[television]

The calipers should be serviced since they are OLD. If you can get new pistons, seals and dust seals they should be fairly easy to service. Get the things off the car and very clean before you dismantle them in a clean environment.
It is common for corrosion to occur on the pistons where they are exposed on the "outside world" end of their walls, this lifts the chrome plating and can make them jam in the bore of the caliper, the pistons cannot be refurbished.
A jammed piston could be very dangerous, if it sticks on the brakes will over heat, if it sticks in the brake will not work untill suficient pressure is applied and the the brake may jam on or lock the wheel resulting in loss of control of the car.
I would try to find a new pair of calipers and be safe. Total loss of fluid (and hence brakes) can also be associated with duff calipers.

In the best interest all round you cant argue with the above