Front brakes sticking?

[stevestix8]

Hi,

I have a Xantia HDi and it failed the mot recently due to brake binding.

I did some research (check previous posts) and was being told that the prob was my caliper. I didn't agree as the calipers were fairly tidy, my discs were ok and I changed my pads about a year ago so they are ok.

After thinking about it and looking on ebay I found a piston seal fix kit.

I would say your prob is more likely in the piston as the binding is happening speradically as apose to continuous. You should check existing seal to piston first. If it appears damaged then dirt can get into piston housing causing the piston to prevent the calpers releasing properly. I ended up getting a replacement seal kit and took wheel off, swung the caliper out of the way, this gave me access to the piston head. Could see damage to seal. Removed piston head then internal o ring and damaged seal. Cleaned the piston housing (some dirt) clean piston itself and we reassembled with new o ring and seal. The binding has stopped completely now and now my pads have bedded in it rolls better and is better on fuel. I took it back to mot place and it is now mot'd for another year.

If yours is anything like mine then this is a common prob and a relatively easy fix. Citroen should have a seal kit if you cant get it on ebay.

Steve

[shoogiesco]

thanks stevestix8 I am going to give this a go, anybody have a rough idea on price I should be paying? Is it worth me doing both sides?

can ayone help me on how to remove handbrake cable from caliper?

cheers
Sandy

[jgra1]

Sandy with handbrake off, cable should quite easily pull off caliper lever?
mine did last week.
John

[stevestix8]

Hi,

It is worth checking this first as you could try new discs, pads or calipers and still not fix the prob. Otherwise it might be a rusted handbrake cable but this would usually cause a continuous binding.

The way to test if you should do both front piston seals is to jack up 1 wheel at a time and (with handbrake off) and wheels chocked, just try free rolling the wheel. See how they compare. I only had to change 1 side as the other was fine and if it aint broke don't fix it.

This is the link for the piston fix kit I used:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xanti ... 0499393175" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

This is not the correct fix kit for your car but gives you an idea of price. If you contact the ebay seller Big Red or Citroen then they will tell you exactly what kit you require.

Steve

[CitroenSlo]

Hi guys,

I have a 2012 Citroen C5 X7 and I have problems with the brakes, especially on warm, hot days. If I have to brake a bit heavier or if I have a full car of people (more weight), it then feels like the brakes get stuck (glued) and it really feels like it's harder to accelerate at the start after a breaking. Once you get the car going again it's okay. Oh and if I have to break quicker on a highway, one side of the car breaks more than the other and the car feels unsafe and unstable.

I changed all four calipers and brake pads and the problem is still there. The mechanic told me that the only other possibility could be the ABS unit and I need to replace that.

Has anyone had similar issues, any advice? I read that cables could be the problem

[PaulC5]

With the car parked you could apply the brakes really hard and then jack up each wheel separately and see if any of the brakes are stuck on. If so then you could slacken a bleed screw to release a bit of brake fluid. If then the stuck brake is free then it suggests a hydraulic problem but if the brake stays stuck on it suggests a mechanical problem.
A hydraulic problem could include the master cylinder, a brake hose or the abs unit. A mechanical problem could include a seized caliper but you would have checked this when fitting new calipers.

After replacing the calipers if you did not bleed the abs unit with a diagnostic then you could have air in the abs unit which will affect braking.