I am just collecting my Holden after a period of 12 months in storage. Everything is fine, except my brakes, which were operational when I stopped driving it, but are now stuck on. I can't press the foot pedal at all. Does anyone know why this Might be, and is there an easy fix? I know nothing about how they operate... I'm in the country and its Saturday and don't have access to a mechanic at the moment.
Thanks
Sally
Brakes following period in storage
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Craig Allardyce
- Posts: 1464
- Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 7:26 pm
- State: VIC
- Location: Stratford
Re: Brakes following period in storage
Quite simply you have most likely seized wheel cylinders. Common problem with these cars if they are left to sit for sometime and the brakes are not regularly flushed. Normal brake fluid is hydroscopic and absorbs moisture. The combination of this and steel or alloy pistons in cast steel wheel cylinders causes corrosion issues. Usually the first symptom is leaking cylinders and or grabbing brakes. May pay to also check your master cylinder if its a cast steel one (original were alloy housing).Bonkers wrote:I am just collecting my Holden after a period of 12 months in storage. Everything is fine, except my brakes, which were operational when I stopped driving it, but are now stuck on. I can't press the foot pedal at all. Does anyone know why this Might be, and is there an easy fix? I know nothing about how they operate... I'm in the country and its Saturday and don't have access to a mechanic at the moment.
Thanks
Sally
Re: Brakes following period in storage
[Quite simply you have most likely seized wheel cylinders. Common problem with these cars if they are left to sit for sometime and the brakes are not regularly flushed. Normal brake fluid is hydroscopic and absorbs moisture. The combination of this and steel or alloy pistons in cast steel wheel cylinders causes corrosion issues. Usually the first symptom is leaking cylinders and or grabbing brakes. May pay to also check your master cylinder if its a cast steel one (original were alloy housing).[/quote]
Hmm. Ok thank you. I have found a local mechanic who will come look at it shortly. If he scratches his head, I'll show him your thoughts.. Is it something that can be solved with bleeding the system or are new parts required? I can't see any sign of leaking fluid on the inside walls of tyres.
Hmm. Ok thank you. I have found a local mechanic who will come look at it shortly. If he scratches his head, I'll show him your thoughts.. Is it something that can be solved with bleeding the system or are new parts required? I can't see any sign of leaking fluid on the inside walls of tyres.
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Craig Allardyce
- Posts: 1464
- Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 7:26 pm
- State: VIC
- Location: Stratford
Re: Brakes following period in storage
IF there's no fluid leaks visible then it sounds like the cylinders are seized or the brake shoes have stuck to the drums.
I'd jack up each wheel to see which ones are stuck. Might be your rears if it was left parked with the handbrake on for all that time. Get him to back off the adjustment on the wheel cylinders on the wheels that wont turn. Try the brakes after this to see which ones if any are sticking. If the wheel cylinders are sticking then they'll need removal for honing and rekitting with new cups (at a minimum). If they're badly corroded you'll find it cheaper to just replace them (assuming your paying labour for all this).
I'd jack up each wheel to see which ones are stuck. Might be your rears if it was left parked with the handbrake on for all that time. Get him to back off the adjustment on the wheel cylinders on the wheels that wont turn. Try the brakes after this to see which ones if any are sticking. If the wheel cylinders are sticking then they'll need removal for honing and rekitting with new cups (at a minimum). If they're badly corroded you'll find it cheaper to just replace them (assuming your paying labour for all this).
Re: Brakes following period in storage
Thank you. The mechanic didn't show so I called a tow truck. It seems it was the rear wheel - in the process of forcing it to drive up the tray, the brake fluid oozed out of it. If we had done as u suggested and tested each wheel, could the damage have been prevented?
Thanks again, I really appreciate you both sharing your knowledge.
Thanks again, I really appreciate you both sharing your knowledge.