Freelander 1 Disc Brake Slide Jamming

Just for info really. Now had 2 separate failures of the rubber clad disc brake slide pin. One is plain steel, other has a rubber sleeve. What happens is the rubber sleeve either swells or slides off the recess on the pin and jams the slide leaving the brake caliper jammed.

I'm replacing them with steel pins as I change pads to remove the problem. No side effects or vibration as a result.

Worth checking your calipers are still free to slide. One of these had worn out the bottom section of the inner pad and so was not easily visible during a quick glance brake pad check.

You're quite correct Andy. The rubber buffer swells and sticks, which I believe due to mineral based lubricant being used. I would guess that a silicone lubricant should be used on the rubber, which doesn't cause rubber swelling issues.

Replacement with plain steel pins makes no difference to the function or noise of the brakes.

Interesting, Andy any pn or item for ze steel ones? Just had a change of discs and one was a bit jammed but we did fix it.

Nodge68 said:

You're quite correct Andy. The rubber buffer swells and sticks, which I believe due to mineral based lubricant being used. I would guess that a silicone lubricant should be used on the rubber, which doesn't cause rubber swelling issues.

Replacement with plain steel pins makes no difference to the function or noise of the brakes.

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I’ve found several swollen rubber buffers from normal grease being used, and I always replace the pin and use silicone grease and have never had a problem. Red rubber grease is also an option.

In a pinch I’ve just pulled off the buffer and used the bare pin, with no problems.

I bought these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Freeland...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

They should fit, it is odd that they are listed for non-vent discs and the rubber ones for vent discs. Go figure!?!?!

Is it the same for ventilated?
Ah obviously not will message the seller to see the vented ones.

Does anyone know what those rubber bits actually do?

Avocet1 said:

Does anyone know what those rubber bits actually do?

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The rubber bellows prevent shít getting on the slider and subsequently inside the carrier and causing the pin to stick/seize.
They're frequently missing..

Henry_b said:

The rubber bellows prevent shít getting on the slider and subsequently inside the carrier and causing the pin to stick/seize.
They're frequently missing..

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I think that only one pin on each caliper is supposed to have them though? Also, they're at the bottom of a blind hole, which makes me think they're not for anything to do with stopping muck from getting in?

Avocet1 said:

I think that only one pin on each caliper is supposed to have them though? Also, they're at the bottom of a blind hole, which makes me think they're not for anything to do with stopping muck from getting in?

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It's their only logical purpose, that and keeping grease in

Henry_b said:

It's their only logical purpose, that and keeping grease in

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I’ve always thought they were some form of damper, either to prevent clicking as the brakes are applied, or to damp the movement of the caliper back and forth.

I've always wondered if they were to do with damping brake squeal or something like that. Again though, it seems unlikely. I also wondered whether they were something to do with changing pads, if you undo one slider and then hinge the caliper body around the other one, so the caliper doesn't flop round, but again, that seems unlikely. It's not uncommon, I've seen it on other cars too, but have never figured out why. Again, I don't buy the grease retention theory, because (a) only one of the pins is fitted with it and (b) it's at the bottom of the hole so it's behind the grease anyway!

Wait the steel pins were installed on the ventilated ones?

guineafowl21 said:

I’ve always thought they were some form of damper, either to prevent clicking as the brakes are applied, or to damp the movement of the caliper back and forth.

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I believe the rubber section is to reduce brake squeal. They're not needed though.

Nodge68 said:

I believe the rubber section is to reduce brake squeal. They're not needed though.

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I wonder if they're needed when everything is new and clean, but as soon as you get a few years buildup of grease, dirt, rust, etc, there's enough friction in there to provide natural damping anyway?

This is not very orthodox, and may strike some as heath robinson / ghetto-tech, but I've encountered these rubber sleves on other vehicles over the years, and in instances of them failing, without exception, I've used a few wraps of high quality vinyl electrical insulating tape, not the cheap nasty stuff from poundland, to replace the swolen rubber sleeves.

Jayridium said:

This is not very orthodox, and may strike some as heath robinson / ghetto-tech, but I've encountered these rubber sleves on other vehicles over the years, and in instances of them failing, without exception, I've used a few wraps of high quality vinyl electrical insulating tape, not the cheap nasty stuff from poundland, to replace the swolen rubber sleeves.

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Hey, if it works...! I'd probably just bin mine and do without if they swelled up.