seized brakes. help please.

[MR AFWO !]

first things first.

tryed to drive my car the other day and the brakes were stuck on after i let the handbrake down. ive only got a cable on the offside, so instantly thought it was a problem with offside cable.
the spring hadnt returned, so i returned it which helped release it a little but the brake was pretty stuck on.
anyways craig13 popped round and we serviced the brake and pads. there was a problem with one of the pins on the slider, so we cleaned it up greased it and got it working again.
we fitted everything back up and everything seemed ok. all four wheels were rolling lovely.

anyways after a short drive to smashing pumpkings house, on the return journey all four brakes have decided to come on and locked up. the pedal has gone high and rock hard aswell.

what could this be ?

too much pressure ? do they need flushing and bleading ?

pinched hose somewhere perhaps ?

problem with master cylinder


any help or ideas thanx .

[stevie]

Try bleeding all the brakes mate.
Failing that, strip the brakes down check the pistons are working properly if you have drums. Try adjusting the shoes.
Check all pipes and connections, and then check the master cylinder, failing all that strip down the whole breaking system and service that should do the trick, that is the last resort though cos its a lot of work and arse ache.
Hope this helps mate.

Im having trouble with my bloody brakes aswell mate feels like a good brake but drive and it scares the hell outta ya dont stop.
Gonna change the pistons and re-adjust the brakes.

[bobley]

Perhaps try backing off the adjustor nut on the master cylinder. The rod which pokes into the front of the MC should have about 1mm gap before it touches the piston inside. If you've got no clearance between the rod and the piston then you never allow the circuit to depressurise and when you drive the heating of the fluid in the calipers causes it to expand and pressurise thus bringing the brakes on as you describe. A quick check would be to briefly crack open one of the bleed nipples and see if the slight drop in pressure releases the wheel.

[MR AFWO !]

nice one guys, thanks for help. ive located the problem to the rod not returning for some reason. either a gromet has moved or perished a bit thus making the movement of the rod tighter or there is a problem with a spring, or like you say it may need jus adjusting.
once the brakes lock on, i can realese them by jus simply pulling on the brake pedel with my hand. we gunna take the cylinder off and fit new seals etc etc with a repair kit. then fit back and see how it goes then. if no good and after adjustments, fit a new cylinder.

[nikki]

hello it appears i am to late with my technical help but I was going to comment that my brakes had a similar problem way back it went for its initial MOT.i could drive a few miles down the road but as soon as i stopped they would seize on. I found that the seals in the master cylinder, which had been replaced were the wrong size and once the pressure had reached the piston etc it would not let any fluid release back thus seizing on. If you have checked everything and everything else is all cool with your brakes then it must be the cylinder. Good luck!!
Oh, and alternative could be as i did on the way to and from VW-action that particular year, use the gears to slow you down and handbrake in emergencies!!! I only got my MOT on the friday of the show and there was no way i was gnna miss it!! lol
happy dubbin-oh and come see the van soon, you big false promiser!! x
x

[stevie]

Mr Afwo you could always get a porsche 924/944 M/C they go straight on. Just take the resevoir off the top, there on ebay for bout £40 ;D

[Dubsy]

Sounds like the brake pedal has siezed to the pedal shaft.