C5 Front brakes

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mongoose100
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C5 Front brakes

Post by mongoose100 »

Have just been greeted with left front brake merrily smoking away while driving!

Have pulled wheel off, wound piston back in and made sure that is nice and free to move.

The Handbrake lever on the caliper however, is very stiff and requires a ring spanner on it to return to the released position, Right side is nice and smooth.

I notice there is a kind of return spring there, however something seems to have siezed in the caliper somewhere
What is causing this and how do I fix it?
Regan.

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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by myglaren »

Chris (citroenmad) has had this and fixed it by repeatedly lubricating and trying to operate the handbrake lever on the calliper.
Mine did the same thing last December. Just put a new calliper on - lazy option.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by dnsey »

WD40 to start with. Let it soak a bit, then a few drops of engine oil. Exercise the lever repeatedly until it's free, then a small blob of grease to keep the water out.
Worked for me, anyway.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by Citroenmad »

It should be free enough to return to the released position without the external spring fitted, it should spring back on its own. If its not doing you know you have not got it free enough.

Fitting a new caliper is the easy option but it is possible to restore a seized one. I took my caliper off, laid it on its side (fluid pipe still connected) and let oil drip into it between working the lever. It eventually got free. Make sure the rubber seal is not damaged and letting water in.
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Post by addo »

When parts are binding due to oxidisation, working in oil is only a very transient fix. You need to dismantle the item and remove added surface thicknesses.

NZ is unlikely to offer a good caliper choice! I would suggest the OP whizzes it off to BiggRed in a padded bag and allows ABS etc to deal with the blanked off fluid line.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by TrojanL200 »

This is a problem I have had to deal with recently, the handbrake cables were sticking so I renewed both cables and guide tubes. the caliper hand brake lever on N/S was fine. the O/S was a different ball game. I took off the spring, removed the lever being careful to note its refit position removed the rubber seal and cleaned out the splines best I could with WD40. I then give it a good smear of copper grease and refitted the lever. I worked the lever movement first with mole grips and then by hand to the point where it now moves freely. I took it on several test drives and after a while the same problem O/S brake stuck and overheating, On the last occasion I again checked the lever and it was completely free. drove approx 10 miles and the O/S brake started to make the steering wheel judder and the brake started over heating again. handbrake working fine not sticking lever disengaging perfect so I am now perplexed.
Anyone point me in the direction of what the problem is.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by dnsey »

It's a common problem, and I strongly suspect related to the handbrake mechanism within the caliper. As you've found, working the lever provides a temporary but short-lived fix. The external lubrication is a red herring IME.
Is there a brake specialist near you who could rebuild the mech? I believe special tools are required.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by waynedance »

It certainly is a common fault in the last 6 years I have had 2 sets of calipers for the hand brake lever sticking fault.

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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by myglaren »

waynedance wrote:It certainly is a common fault in the last 6 years I have had 2 sets of calipers for the hand brake lever sticking fault.

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Same here - recently replaced most of the braking system. Sticking callipers and corroded handbrake guide tubes and cables were the main reason.
This time I had the mechanic pack the guide tubes with grease before fitting in the hope they will last a bit longer.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by waynedance »

Yeah also just replaced my rear calipers due to the well known corrosion issue issue(squealing). Already swapped them from left to right a few years ago.

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Last edited by waynedance on 12 Jun 2016, 19:16, edited 1 time in total.
Volvo S80 D5.........
C5 2.2HDi Exclusive 2003 manual (now gone).
2009 Renault Megane, the misses drive.
Had a 1988 BX 19TRS Auto many moons ago.
Forgive any spelling mistakes, it's the phone not me.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by TrojanL200 »

Thanks all for replies I have decided to buy 2 refurbs from a motor parts place I trust fully. got new discs so going for complete refit. expensive option I know but at least then I know all system done.
Kind Regards
Chris
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by myglaren »

It is best to replace the cables and guide tubes too, as a preventative measure.
They can be freed up but it is no more than a temporary solution.
Guide tubes available only from the dealer, cables can be had from GSF.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by TrojanL200 »

myglaren wrote:It is best to replace the cables and guide tubes too, as a preventative measure.
They can be freed up but it is no more than a temporary solution.
Guide tubes available only from the dealer, cables can be had from GSF.
This I have already done as they were the original cause of problem.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by waynedance »

Never had to replace my cables or guides in 6 years but I keep my hand brake so it has a little free play. Best not to keep it on 3 or 4 clicks as the cables do not get moved much if that makes sense, this is why I think I have never had a problem with cables.

You are supposed to be able to remove the cable from the caliper when hand brake is off.

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C5 2.2HDi Exclusive 2003 manual (now gone).
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Had a 1988 BX 19TRS Auto many moons ago.
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Re: C5 Front brakes

Post by TrojanL200 »

waynedance wrote:Never had to replace my cables or guides on 6 years but I keep my hand brake so it has a little free play. Best not to kelp it on 3 or 4 clips as the cables do not get moved much of that makes sense, this is why I think I have never had a problem with cables.

You are supposed to be able to remove the cable from the caliper when hand brake is off.

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My C5 is a 2003 and previous owner has never replaced the tyres never mind anything more important think the oil in engine was original too.
tyres were in a right state the inner bead had all but separated from all four.

So I am going through it bit by bit
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