C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Moderator: RichardW
Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Why have you not changed the discs? they look pretty worn, could be warped very slightly as well especially if the brakes have been binding
Micky
Citroen C5 2.0 HDI VTR 138 48k
Citroen Xsara 1.6SX Brilliant car, 9 years and 119000 Miles
2 Pug 306's
Peugeot 207 1.4 Sport
Citroen ZX 1.9D
If it aint broke.......
Citroen C5 2.0 HDI VTR 138 48k
Citroen Xsara 1.6SX Brilliant car, 9 years and 119000 Miles
2 Pug 306's
Peugeot 207 1.4 Sport
Citroen ZX 1.9D
If it aint broke.......
- Stickyfinger
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Naaa....that's a sticking handbrake mechanical return in the caliper...had the same on my old C5....It WILL destroy your disks, it will destroy your pads, it will overheat BOTH as the brakes will stay on giving the smell. Given time it can also overheat both the brake fluid and the wheel bearings.
There is not anyway to repair this except new calipers. That said you can free them up temporally by taking the wheel off, un-clip the handbrake cable and gripping the leaver with mole-grips, them work it for 5-10 mins applying hot oil (NOT WD40, which will make it worse)....I did 3 months without a handbrake...funny how you get used to it
In a few cases it "could" be the cables BUT with what you are getting it looks like calipers
Citroen designed these without waterproof gaiters !...good Job Frenchie
There is not anyway to repair this except new calipers. That said you can free them up temporally by taking the wheel off, un-clip the handbrake cable and gripping the leaver with mole-grips, them work it for 5-10 mins applying hot oil (NOT WD40, which will make it worse)....I did 3 months without a handbrake...funny how you get used to it
In a few cases it "could" be the cables BUT with what you are getting it looks like calipers
Citroen designed these without waterproof gaiters !...good Job Frenchie
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
I'm currently experimenting with lubricating a sticky handbrake lever pivot with brake fluid - much better results so far than with any sort of oil.
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Thanks. Did wonder. The garage checked this last time but as you say it the car was cold. There is an initial slack when pulling on handbrake. It's a big job to replace this isn't it?
C'est pas possible!
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
If you do as you recommend but push the seal back and spray the shaft with 3 in 1 oil regularly there's no need to chuck the calliper away.Stickyfinger wrote:Naaa....that's a sticking handbrake mechanical return in the caliper...had the same on my old C5....It WILL destroy your disks, it will destroy your pads, it will overheat BOTH as the brakes will stay on giving the smell. Given time it can also overheat both the brake fluid and the wheel bearings.
There is not anyway to repair this except new calipers. That said you can free them up temporally by taking the wheel off, un-clip the handbrake cable and gripping the leaver with mole-grips, them work it for 5-10 mins applying hot oil (NOT WD40, which will make it worse)....I did 3 months without a handbrake...funny how you get used to it
In a few cases it "could" be the cables BUT with what you are getting it looks like calipers
Citroen designed these without waterproof gaiters !...good Job Frenchie
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
It's a straightforward job to replace a caliper if necessary; the problem is finding a reliable second-hand replacement.
If you go looking for one, be aware that there are three different sizes, mostly depending on model, but not always consistently so.
If you go looking for one, be aware that there are three different sizes, mostly depending on model, but not always consistently so.
- Stickyfinger
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Very true IF it is not already knackered.....do you think this will recover one that is already sticking ?If you do as you recommend but push the seal back and spray the shaft with 3 in 1 oil regularly there's no need to chuck the caliper away.
is there a seal on C5 calipers? on mine there is no seal or boot on the handbrake leaver/shaft that is accessible, it looks to be internal.
On my present car which has fully working calipers, I load the area with very thick grease and replace that every few months in an attempt to protect it. I have also sealed the HBrake cable with an concertina sheath to prevent water Ingres up the guide tubes...that cost a bit on the last one as well so prevention is better that ££'s spent
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
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Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
The garage replaced the caliper. They broke almost immediately so did another set under warranty.
Very annoying if it has gone again.
So I unclip the cable and work oil into the bit that it fitted into? Can you point it in the piccie?
Very annoying if it has gone again.
So I unclip the cable and work oil into the bit that it fitted into? Can you point it in the piccie?
C'est pas possible!
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
There's a seal of sorts pinched between the black lever in your pic and the calliper body, you can shift it aside with a blade and spray the shaft, takes a bit of effort moving the lever back and forth with mole grips as in your previous post but once freed off regular spraying will keep it free.Stickyfinger wrote:Very true IF it is not already knackered.....do you think this will recover one that is already sticking ?If you do as you recommend but push the seal back and spray the shaft with 3 in 1 oil regularly there's no need to chuck the caliper away.
is there a seal on C5 calipers? on mine there is no seal or boot on the handbrake leaver/shaft that is accessible, it looks to be internal.
On my present car which has fully working calipers, I load the area with very thick grease and replace that every few months in an attempt to protect it. I have also sealed the HBrake cable with an concertina sheath to prevent water Ingres up the guide tubes...that cost a bit on the last one as well so prevention is better that ££'s spent
It looks to me that Boris has cable trouble, the only way to be sure is to disconnect them at the calliper and see if they can be pulled end to end
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
- Stickyfinger
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Not sure I understand your question.boristhespie wrote:The garage replaced the caliper. They broke almost immediately so did another set under warranty.
Very annoying if it has gone again.
So I unclip the cable and work oil into the bit that it fitted into? Can you point it in the piccie?
As you can see in the photo, the "handbrake" is part of the caliper, the cables are inside guide tubes...so when you replace the caliper you also replace the handbrake mechanism at the same time.
IF the cable is sticking in the tubes, dependent on the level of corrosion you will need either cables OR both the cable and guide tubes replaced....which is what I had to do with mine....others here will be better qualified than I am to advise on that procedure and cost (cost me £240 4 years ago)
Ahhh...OK thanks. Can you take of the leaver arm , install an over-thick O ring, then reapply the leaver arm compressed to act as extra seal do you think ?There's a seal of sorts pinched between the black lever in your pic and the calliper body, you can shift it aside with a blade and spray the shaft, takes a bit of effort moving the lever back and forth with mole grips as in your previous post but once freed off regular spraying will keep it free.
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
I'm not convinced that it's always an external problem which makes the calipers stick. I've seen pictures of similar calipers with a rusty internal mechanism, and suspect that it's important to change the brake fluid regularly to prevent dissolved water causing this.
Boris - did the garage fit new or second hand calipers?
Boris - did the garage fit new or second hand calipers?
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
There's a seal of sorts pinched between the black lever in your pic and the calliper body, you can shift it aside with a blade and spray the shaft, takes a bit of effort moving the lever back and forth with mole grips as in your previous post but once freed off regular spraying will keep it free.
I doubt if the spring will be man enough to pull the lever back if you make the seal much thicker.Ahhh...OK thanks. Can you take of the leaver arm , install an over-thick O ring, then reapply the leaver arm compressed to act as extra seal do you think ?
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
dnsey wrote:I'm not convinced that it's always an external problem which makes the calipers stick. I've seen pictures of similar calipers with a rusty internal mechanism, and suspect that it's important to change the brake fluid regularly to prevent dissolved water causing this.
Boris - did the garage fit new or second hand calipers?
I've seen callipers rusted inside too but not often and usually on cars that have been waded in saltwater on the beach
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Looks like another expensive trip to a garage. Just at the end of the hols too.
Neverending.
Neverending.
C'est pas possible!
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Re: C5 conundrum and long journey ahead.
Fife can be wet n' salty!
Rick.
2013 Citroen DS 5 D/Sport
2007 Renault Clio Campus sport. 1.2l
Sometimes the change doesn't work.
2013 Citroen DS 5 D/Sport
2007 Renault Clio Campus sport. 1.2l
Sometimes the change doesn't work.