Seized Caliper, Don't shout!

Hello all.

Don't shout i have done a search but all the info i find is for Disco's or Range Rover.

My 03 FL had a n/s caliper seize today. No stranger to this, it happened on a Rover 400 Diesel i had (loved that car) so knew what to do to get home. Got to a petrol station and cooled the wheel and brakes down with some water from there hose and gave the caliper a whack with a wooden mallet i had in the boot. This freed it off and with as little use of the brakes as possible got home on probs.

My question is.. Is the cure the same as my old faithful Rover 400?

IE new caliper and flexi hose?

Any advice welcome as we say. I do a lot of miles in summer along the Western Front of WWI ypres to the somme following Grandads foot steps so need the car to be right.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

03 TD4

I'd take the caliper off, remove the pads and CAREFULLY use the brake pedal to move the pistons out, push back in and repeat, quite a few times. Lubricate the outside of the pistons sparingly.

Get help when doing this so you don't pop the pistons out

measure the width in between the pistons and then cut a piece of wood with a gap and then hold it in place this will ensure the pistons will not come out

for emergency only, mole grips on the flex hose

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If the piston looks corroded, fit a new one with new seals.
Repairing the caliper is viable if the casting is in good nick and you use good quality parts.
Stainless steel piston may be an option.

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teddywood1 said:

measure the width in between the pistons and then cut a piece of wood with a gap and then hold it in place this will ensure the pistons will not come out

Click to expand...

There's always one smartarse.....:mooning:

(Great idea by the way :caked

englishbullterrier said:

There's always one smartarse.....:mooning:

(Great idea by the way :caked

Click to expand...

sorry but it has always worked for me

As always. Many thanks for your replies!

I'll give all the above advice a go.

I do remember some thing about, not letting the fluid in the system to be forced back against the ABS system? As it can cause probs, Is this the case with a FL?

Cheers all.

Don't worry about pushing fluid back and into the ABS modulator.

The Engineers at Land Rover have already thought of this and it does NO HARM

Jus said:

Don't worry about pushing fluid back and into the ABS modulator.

The Engineers at Land Rover have already thought of this and it does NO HARM

Click to expand...

Really?.....I'd rather play it safe.

I also have never had a problem......After all, it's what happens when you fit new brake pads.
I can understand it if the master cylinder is full to the brim the pads are worn and when renewed would cause the fluid to overflow...in this case, the bleed nipples can be slackened to drain the excess.
The difference between the high & low levels on the reservoir takes into account wear on the pads/shoes and in theory the fluid level should not need topping up. It's good practice however to replace the fluid every couple of years.

Irishrover said:

I also have never had a problem......After all, it's what happens when you fit new brake pads.
I can understand it if the master cylinder is full to the brim the pads are worn and when renewed would cause the fluid to overflow...in this case, the bleed nipples can be slackened to drain the excess.
The difference between the high & low levels on the reservoir takes into account wear on the pads/shoes and in theory the fluid level should not need topping up. It's good practice however to replace the fluid every couple of years.

Click to expand...

+1 i never open bleed nipple to push pistons bcak causes no issues at all

Jus said:

Don't worry about pushing fluid back and into the ABS modulator.

The Engineers at Land Rover have already thought of this and it does NO HARM

Click to expand...

i've always pushed them back and suffered no problems. i have never had an overflowing reservoir either.
like rover says change the fluid every couple of years and alls good

Fair enough...just going off early Peugeot abs where we had to do this else it could feck things up. Even now our 180 gti Peugeot is meant to be bled hooked up to peugeot planet

Just remember to use the correct RUBBER grease (or silicone grease) for the slider pins as normal grease or copper grease will swell and damage the rubbers allowing water to enter and more rust to come...