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rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:22 pm
by hedgebog
Hi chaps i'm after a bit of advice.the o/s rear brake appears to be binding and the abs/epc light has been coming on but clears when you turn the ignition off and on again.I've stripped the brake down and everything appears to be normal the pads were a bit tight in the carrier so cleaned them up.
I checked the handbrake cable which was free and the piston wound back in fairly easy and the sliders were nice an free.I built it back up and went for a drive and its still binding.Can the piston still stick even when it wound back reasonably easy or could it be something more sinister?,i'm hoping its just the caliper that could need replacing.
Thanks Paul.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 2:39 pm
by Maximo
I've had the same issue, although without the ABS sensor problem. Ended up replacing the caliper with a refurbed part.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:27 pm
by ahoooga
hedgebog wrote:Can the piston still stick even when it wound back reasonably easy or could it be something more sinister?,i'm hoping its just the caliper that could need replacing.
Thanks Paul.
Haven't messed with the pads myself, but if its like most other manufacturers brakes , its not the actual piston that you wound back in . IIRC , you wound/screwed an insert back into the piston itself,so the piston still travels in the same section of the cylinder anyway. the screw in part is just a 'spacer' for want of a better word that takes up the slack between pads and piston as the pads wear thinner.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:10 pm
by hedgebog
Thanks for the replies.It sounds promising that it could be the caliper then,i think i'll order a new one and see what happens.I'm hoping that its that thats bringing on the abs and epc lights aswell.
regards Paul.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:43 pm
by Maximo
I doubt the caliper being a little sticky would cause the ABS sensor to generate fault code. I would just replace the sensor when you do the caliper.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:43 am
by Shoppinit
Unless the whole assembly has been getting so hot it's fried the ABS sensor.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:42 am
by hedgebog
Yeh,i think i'll change the sensor whilst i'm at it.
Thanks Paul.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 6:46 pm
by hedgebog
Hi,a bit of an update.I've had the rear o/s caliper replaced and both abs and epc lights kept coming back on but clearing when turning the ignition off and on!.II had my local garage take a look,he plugged the car in and it said the fault was the front o/s sensor so I've just had it replaced with OE.I brought the car home all was well,just been out again and the bloody lights are on again !!.Has anyone had these lights on together before?.sorry for rambling on.
Thanks Paul.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:21 pm
by Astrosquirrel
From my experience and something that costs you nothing to check: Battery.

I've had the same issue in almost all my VW group cars incl the 6. When the battery loses charge due to aging (or multiple engine starts without a proper charge) the ABS light starts playing up.

It's also the easiest check to perform :)

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:26 pm
by hedgebog
Thanks I'll take a look,its them both being on together that's worrying me,got a horrible feeling its going to be expensive!!.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:42 pm
by Shoppinit
Failing ABS controller will do that.

Also, a bad mixture can put your ABS and EPC lights on. You need to see what codes you've got stored. And not just in the ABS controller module.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:52 pm
by hedgebog
Ok thanks,I haven't got access to a Vagcom so I'll book it in at the local stealers,I think its 60 notes for them to plug it in.
Thanks Paul.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:01 pm
by Shoppinit
Wow, at that price a Vagcom will quickly pay for itself. Especially since you could probably sell it on for less than £60 difference.

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 8:23 pm
by ahoooga
hedgebog wrote:Ok thanks,I haven't got access to a vagcom so I'll book it in at the local stealers,I think its 60 notes for them to plug it in.
Thanks Paul.
where about are you located ?

Re: rear o/s brake binding

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 9:10 pm
by hedgebog
I'm near derby.