Back Driver-Side wheel/breaks!

[Ryan]

First off, I am new to the site here and glad to find it! Looking forward to diving in deeper on the forum!!

I have recently bought my first Peugeot car, picking up a nice 02 plate 406 Rapier HDI 110 from a local car garage and have to say I love it! So I am a bit down just now as small (hopefully) problems are beginning to surface. The other day, I started to hear a slight nice from the back wheel after coming along the country road and breaking, I would not say grinding but more like a a rubbing noise but more metallic in sound if that makes any sense. Once I got into the town here it was beginning to squeak but would then stop, only to start again...this was more evident at slower speeds.

My uncle [knows more about cars than me] was down yesterday and checked the pads for me and said they all looked new along with the discs, but the problem wheel pads looked more worn and he even questioned why they looked so old. He jacked the car up and tried to spin the wheel and it was solid, he then had a go at freeing the calliper and complained that it seemed to be sticking on the bottom? he was at it for a couple of hours but ultimately he did get it more free but not completely...All he had to use on the job was WD40 and a lot of swearing HAHA. I tested it after he was done but still I hear the slight whirling noise and at times it starts to squeal before easing off...it got real noise at one point and pretty embarrassing

Anyway, what would be the suggestions for the cause of the wheel sticking like this, what would be the best practice, tools and sprays etc to use to try and free it! I was hoping I would not have to replace it all at this time as funds are tight after buying it and I am gutted me and the wife can not get out and about...apart from a few very minor things, its great to drive. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! I am going to buy a Haynes book and attempt all smaller jobs myself, time I got some basic education in these hard up times lol.

[Gary406]

some thing is telling me that the pad isnt sliding freely on the caliper .... if the pads dont slide freely on the caliper and jam then when you press the brakes the pad is staying pressed against the disc.

after a small journey test to see if the wheel is very hot . hotter than its meant to be ... if the pad is sticking on the disc then it will cause a lot of heat with the friction and transfer it to the wheel

if the guy is questiong how old it is then that also sounds like it could be a lot or rust / corrosion build up on the calipers...

my next job would be removing the caliper sliders to make sure the pads will slide freely in them

[Ryan]

Sounds very plausible to me Gary!

Hence the rubbing sound I am hearing from that area with injection of squeaks and the like now and then. This actually takes me back to after I bought it, maybe second day...I got out the car and smelt a very faint burning rubber from that area. Now I just had a Mondeo before this car which had a sticking calliper on the front wheel which my Uncle sorted by cleaning it and it was bad in smell...this was not as strong but I noticed it...to be honest, I was hoping it was newish pads wearing in

I am going to go up to Halfords tomorrow and get the Haynes Book for it to start with I think...anything else suggested for the job for cleaning and the like? I will get the wee camera charged up too and take photos so I know how to reconstruct and to share on here if I get stuck.

If I can just get this problem solved and back on the road comfortably then I can tackle the other small faults for peace of mind.

Massive thanks for the reply Gary!!

[Gary406]

a good old wire brush may come in handy. i find a wire brush will brush off the dirt/rust build up on the slider
also a small metal file (smooth one) not a rough one.
i always file down were the calipers slide so its shiney bare metal were pads sit . thoroughly file down both the top and the bottom sections

oh the most important . get some copper grease. and apply a small amount were the caliper slides making sure you dont get any on the disc . this helps stop the rust build up in the future and helps the pad slide easy

[Ryan]

Excellent stuff Gary, I have noted it all down!

I will keep posted on how I get on!

[Ryan]

Phew, right the above job has been done and still the problem exists.

Firstly I would like to say, for the first time I managed to get at succeed at the brakes thanks to this forum and the information in the Knowledge base, purely by the advice, pictures and instructions I was able to do what I needed to do. I have to say a massive thanks for this!!

So, the brakes were cleaned as advised on the forums here to stop squeaks by I think it was jasper5, filed edges slightly, rough sandpaper et al. Slides have been cleaned, copper greased, backs of pads copper greased etc. Calliper seems fine, moving freely back and forth etc...now

While brakes were out, I was spinning the disc to see if it was stiff and its is slightly. moving backwards (reverse) It moves more freely but turning forward it moves but not as free as I think it should, hearing that slight rubbing sound and thought I heard what sounded like rust/spring/metallic twang now and then. Could it be to do with the hand brake?

The hand brake is pretty unreliable as I have found lately, it holds when it wants too not being the most knowledgeable about cars, it would be great to hear other thoughts.

Thanks in advance guys!!

[gumby6371]

Ryan,

I had a similar issue with my D8 with the OSR binding, turned out to be the hand brake cable. It has basically bonded itself to the outer sleeve so it wasn't fully releasing.

Mine is a drum brake setup so different to yours but you could clearly see the outersleeve of the hand brake cable moving back and forth. Get someone to pull the handbrake on and off while you look at the cable. For god's sake chock the wheels or leave it in gear tho, it would be a real shame if you ran yourself over so soon into 406 ownership

[Ryan]

Ryan,

I had a similar issue with my D8 with the OSR binding, turned out to be the hand brake cable. It has basically bonded itself to the outer sleeve so it wasn't fully releasing.

Mine is a drum brake setup so different to yours but you could clearly see the outersleeve of the hand brake cable moving back and forth. Get someone to pull the handbrake on and off while you look at the cable. For god's sake chock the wheels or leave it in gear tho, it would be a real shame if you ran yourself over so soon into 406 ownership

I was just coming on to post that I have located the problem.

When I use the handbrake, then release it, it binds the wheel. I have been under the car all afternoon with a tin of WD40, spraying it at set points which were really rusty. I wiggled the cable at the part that goes into the back of calliper and it freed the whole thing. Perfect till I use handbrake and let it off again, go check wheel and stiff to turn again...wiggle cable...free again SO the cable? New one? In the mean time I have it free and not using the handbrake till I get a final solution and completed.

I chocked the wheels My new nifty lifting set from halfords had all the bits and bobs and I followed it all to the letter Thanks Guys!! This forum truly does rock!!

[jasper5]

Before you decide to replace the cable take a look inside the brake disc/drum assembly to see if the pivot mechanism is free.

It's the part to the left next to the caliper in the picture showing the new shoes and adjuster.,,,,

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13956

[Ryan]

Thanks jasper5, we have just been out and stripped down to look at it, cleaned the pivot mechanism (was pretty well rusty in there) along with pretty much everything else on reconstruction, spun the disk and its free. Hand brake on and off and still free now so fingers crossed that is it wheel is now back on, pumped breaks, hand brake tested and still all turning good now with no noise and nothing catching!!

Will keep my ears close on it over the next few days but I am optimistic its all solved.

Massive thanks!!! I have learned a ton too about working on the back brakes!

[jasper5]

Thanks jasper5, we have just been out and stripped down to look at it, cleaned the pivot mechanism (was pretty well rusty in there) along with pretty much everything else on reconstruction, spun the disk and its free. Hand brake on and off and still free now so fingers crossed that is it wheel is now back on, pumped breaks, hand brake tested and still all turning good now with no noise and nothing catching!!

Will keep my ears close on it over the next few days but I am optimistic its all solved.

Massive thanks!!! I have learned a ton too about working on the back brakes!

Well done Hopefully all is well now

[Ryan]

Thanks Jasper5