Rear Left Locking up

1. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

   #1 30th June 2008, 13:36

   ive had a look round but cant seem to find anyone with exactly the same problem.
   bought the car a few months back its had new disks pads piping and ive just re-blead the brakes so they should be top notch but.. the brakes dont start having an effect until im 3/4 of the way down the pedal and if i want to stop quickly the rear left locks up and sends me in circles. any ideas?
   I had a look at the rear right caliper and the piston has a small notch in it.. could that be getting stuck and more pressure going to the left.. but still the fronts should be stronger.
   
   thanks
2. CampDavid Saxperience Post Whore Joined: May 2006 Bedford Posts: 7457 Saxo VTS Peugeot 306 GTI-6 Astra SRI

   #2 30th June 2008, 14:09

   Brake bias controller probably needs looking at. Is it loosing fluid at all? Could also be a dead caliper
3. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

   #3 30th June 2008, 14:18

   no i arent loosing fluid ive checked that already, does the bias controller adjust both rear brakes or is it on a front left rear right visa versa setup? if it isnt then surely both rears would lock up if the controller is seized. i may have a play about with the controller, see if i can get the fronts locking up first
4. CampDavid Saxperience Post Whore Joined: May 2006 Bedford Posts: 7457 Saxo VTS Peugeot 306 GTI-6 Astra SRI

   #4 30th June 2008, 14:25

   Front and rear. You may find it's the handbrake cable needs adjustment if it's just on one side
5. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

   #5 30th June 2008, 14:46

   yeah, well il have to keep doing what i am and just see if i can work it out.. ill have a look at the handbrake cable though. let us know if any of you have a brainstorm and know what it could be. cheers
6. KayPee Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2006 Telford Posts: 372 FIAT 1.9 MJet GPS in New Orleans Blue.

   #6 30th June 2008, 15:16

   I would start looking at the other rear brake if it were my car, brake shoe / pad, brake efficiency poor on the side that doesnt lock up, based on what u previously said. Are the shoes / pads the same make? If so the caliper may be partially seized.
   
   Calipers havnt been badly painted with paint seizing the one side up by any chance?
   
   I'm sure u know but an emergency stop in the wet could see you in big trouble.
7. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

   #7 30th June 2008, 17:16

   no they havent been painted, im going to take another look that that caliper.. see if it is holding up.. i do think it has something to do with the bit of corrosion on the piston. can you get just the piston? or will it be just as well getting a full caliper..
   yeah the idea of wet and hard braking doesnt sound good. thats why ive came on here to see if i can get a faster solution to it.
8. pug306_ok L-plater Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 51

   #8 30th June 2008, 18:37

   Is the car lowered? My money is on badly adjusted bias valve. I made a big post about this recently but I don't think anyone read it.
9. quickkwak07 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2008 norwich Posts: 317 1999 vtr

   #9 30th June 2008, 18:39

   the brake bias dosent effect i have the same problem posted up be fore and no one could help dnt think it will be the caliper as ive had mine off been to a garage been brake tested but it still does it and in the wet at 30mph it spins me round 180 degrees which is a little unnerving in an emergency
10. pug306_ok L-plater Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 51

    #10 30th June 2008, 18:47

    Unadjusted bias valve on lowered cars will cause the back wheels to lock under moderate/heavy braking and also spin you around in a circle.
11. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

    #11 30th June 2008, 18:52

    it aint lowered...yet ha, stil sitting standard atm. as i say its only the rear left locking mate
12. quickkwak07 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2008 norwich Posts: 317 1999 vtr

    #12 30th June 2008, 19:56

    yep exactly the same as me and also when it went to a garage they striped the caliper to find nothing rong
13. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

    #13 30th June 2008, 21:43

    which caliper did they strip? the one that was locking on or the opposite side?
14. KayPee Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2006 Telford Posts: 372 FIAT 1.9 MJet GPS in New Orleans Blue.

    #14 1st July 2008, 09:09

    Its goinfg to be one brake or the other, not bias as bias is front to back brakes. I would overhaul or replace both calipers and pads TBH and do a brake bleed / set up after. Might even be worth a complete brake re-line at this point so the new brakes bed in together. Check you havnt got a collapsed or collapsing brake hose as well, they can be very hard to spot externally tho.
15. quickkwak07 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2008 norwich Posts: 317 1999 vtr

    #15 1st July 2008, 20:12

    how would i know if its a nackered hose?
16. KayPee Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2006 Telford Posts: 372 FIAT 1.9 MJet GPS in New Orleans Blue.

    #16 2nd July 2008, 09:31

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by quickkwak07 how would i know if its a nackered hose?

    An experienced Mechanic can feel it, the best way for a novice is removal. This wont cause you brake to lock up tho, it will make the brake less eficient but that means the efficient one WILL lock up as it gets all the pressure effort due to the other brakes collapsed hose.
17. ozzy_hare Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 Hull/York half way between Posts: 188 Topaz Gold 00' Saxo VTR

    #17 8th July 2008, 22:16

    Just been advised to see if the compensator has partially siezed as the car had been sat for a while before i bought it.
    
    just going to buy a second hand one off a breaker. see if that fixes it, hopefully a easy fix. let you know if it does.