Sticky Caliper - any quick fix as I'm at the club meet up in Dorset and need to get home tomorrow?

[parxuk]

Hi gang

I'm not at all mechanically minded.

Travelled from Bristol to the club meet in Dorset yesterday and noticed a squeling noise from the front left area.

On getting to the site it was evident that the front left brake disc was much hotter than the others.

As we've got to get back to Bristol tomorrow does anybody have any tips they could recommend for trying to free it (assuming it has stayed stuck)?

Failing that I think I have some form of recovery with our caravan guard insurance.. Do you think they will attend for this?

Thanks

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I assume you have tried pumping the brakes, with both the hand brake on and off, to see if that frees the caliper?

 

[parxuk]

Nope but thanks. Google suggested reversing at 10mph then firmly applying the brakes.

Will give it all a try and keep fingers crossed

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Hi gang

I'm not at all mechanically minded.

Travelled from Bristol to the club meet in Dorset yesterday and noticed a squeling noise from the front left area.

On getting to the site it was evident that the front left brake disc was much hotter than the others.

As we've got to get back to Bristol tomorrow does anybody have any tips they could recommend for trying to free it (assuming it has stayed stuck)?

Failing that I think I have some form of recovery with our caravan guard insurance.. Do you think they will attend for this?

Thanks

Some 20 years ago I had the same (with terrible screeching). The reversing breaking trick failed and I needed a breakdown callout, with the problem resolved by the skillful mechanic with some wire 'yanking' out a stone. The validity of my breakdown callout was not questioned.

 

[Ocean100]

I had this once on a transit, stone stuck with tiny bit of road tar, couldn't shift it with back and forth. took no effort once accessed to shift it, it wasn't stuck firm as such, couldn't believe the noise from such a small thing barely holding on.

 

[sidepod]

There’s no quick fix without stripping the calliper etc which, from your first post, I assume is out of the question!

I would try several hard stops from 30mph. This might work the pistons enough to free it and get you home.

Beware, if the caliper is getting hot you could be in danger of boiling the fluid and ending up with no brakes.
If you spend any time at speed without braking, just bear this in mind.