Citroen C5 brake problem

michael maurice · Post by **michael maurice** » 31 Oct 2010, 14:21

Yesterday while driving, i noticed the car felt sluggish, I then found that the nearside front brake is binding.

I think this might be a problem with the handbrake mechanism seizing or could it be the calliper itself.

I havn't had a chance to remove the wheel and check, but wondered if it was a common fault.

Michael

rabenson · Post by **rabenson** » 31 Oct 2010, 15:08

same thing happened on mine (offside disk glowing on the drive....), hadn't had the car long at the time so didn't notice the sluggishness - local Cit specialist freed the handbrake mechanism but that only worked for a while - new caliper sorted it.

Ron

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 31 Oct 2010, 17:05

Ive had this with mine too, i have free'd the caliper handbrake level a few times and only when i took the calliper off and poured some freeing agent into the splines of the lever while the calliper was on its side did it cure it, its not had than problem since.

Though i did replace the handbrake cables to try and solve the problem, as the calliper was free the cables were sticking too. Which was a pig of a job an di ended up giving in and taking it to the local Citroen indy.

Post by **quintet** » 31 Oct 2010, 23:47

I've replaced a few calipers due to them sticking & I've also had to do the handbrake cables too, which as Citroenmad has hinted at can be a right 'mare to do, mainly due to the cable guide tubes. If your gonna replace the cables i strongly recommend you change the guide tubes too as the cables often seize into the tubes & cant be pulled out! i also wouldn't try changing the cables/guide tubes on the floor/driveway as the (large) exhaust heat sheid needs removing (as does the centre console inside the car) so its best to get the car up on a proper ramp.

Citroenmad · Post by **Citroenmad** » 01 Nov 2010, 19:39

Yep, thats exactly what i did.

I tried to remove the cables but they were stuck inside the guides. So i bought nw guides but couldn't get the old ones off. So I ended up booking it into the Indy for them to do.

Ive not had a sticking brake since freeing the calliper handbrake lever properly, though if it happens again ill get new callipers. They dont half create some smoke when they stick!