Brakes gone!

1. Bunglebee Newbie Joined: Oct 2010 Skipton UK Posts: 9 SAXO 1.2

   #1 14th May 2011, 20:53

   ok so i've been on holiday for a week and come back to use the car.
   
   set of and the car crunched and felt like i hit something. got out checked and there was nothing. then as i drove on kept happening for 10 meters. that has now stopped but the brakes barely work unless slammed on. brake fluid is still full and no puddles under the car. also handbrake cable snapped.
   
   i'm covered by AA so think of driving 1/4 mile then calling them out to have a look and tow to garage if problems not fixed but has anyone got idea's what/why this happened. only thing i can think of is weather has frozen/stuck brakes and somethings gone/given way
   
   thanks in advance
2. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #2 14th May 2011, 20:54

   brakes dont like being stood up.
   
   i cant leave mine for two days without them being noisy for about a mile!
3. Bunglebee Newbie Joined: Oct 2010 Skipton UK Posts: 9 SAXO 1.2

   #3 14th May 2011, 21:09

   so just don't leave it that long then?
   
   can get mum etc to turn it arround etc n future if thats it
4. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

   #4 14th May 2011, 22:13

   drive around left foot braking, to scrub the shite off.
5. user_38198 Established Member Joined: Oct 2009 West Mids Posts: 1847 Peugeot 106 1.1

   #5 14th May 2011, 22:21

   It's a good idea if you are going to be leaving your car a while to leave the handbrake off and leave it in gear because they can bind if left for a while. The bang you heard may of been the handbrake freeing when you moved off.
6. mechsman Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2010 Bristol Posts: 906 Saxo 1.4i SX 3dr, 106 (engine swap under way), p

   #6 14th May 2011, 22:57

   It shouldn't seize up in a week surely? Mine regularly gets left for over a week and I never have issues with it being seized.
   
   When you say it felt like you hit something, did the back of the car squat slightly and then release? If so, it might be that one of your rear brake shoe linings has come off, stuck to the inside of the drum, and went round until it clouted the other shoe. Hitting it a few times probably dislodged it and it's now either disintergrated or sitting in the bottom of the drum.
7. Bunglebee Newbie Joined: Oct 2010 Skipton UK Posts: 9 SAXO 1.2

   #7 14th May 2011, 23:51

   firstly i reversed and it felt like i mounted something and crunched. then i tried fowards and it felt like it squatted and a grinding noise.... someones suggested the cylinders
8. DanGT Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2011 Surrey Posts: 192 TVR cerbera, Saxo VTR

   #8 15th May 2011, 08:46

   Possibly cylinders, or shoes as mechsman said. Best thing to do is whip the back wheels and drums off and have a look. You say the handbrake cable snapped, does it just feel like its not connected or can you see where its broken? Any case, best bet is to have a look, it doesn't sound difficult to sort out. Plus you shouldn't have to move a car every day for the brakes to work properly! Probably just unlucky with timing
9. mechsman Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2010 Bristol Posts: 906 Saxo 1.4i SX 3dr, 106 (engine swap under way), p

   #9 15th May 2011, 10:49

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Bunglebee firstly i reversed and it felt like i mounted something and crunched. then i tried fowards and it felt like it squatted and a grinding noise.... someones suggested the cylinders

   Doesn't sound good chap.
   
   

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by DanGT Possibly cylinders, or shoes as mechsman said. Best thing to do is whip the back wheels and drums off and have a look. You say the handbrake cable snapped, does it just feel like its not connected or can you see where its broken? Any case, best bet is to have a look, it doesn't sound difficult to sort out. Plus you shouldn't have to move a car every day for the brakes to work properly! Probably just unlucky with timing

   Can't see how it could be cylinders but from the sound of it, something has become detached inside the drum and was rattling around inside. Get the drums off and have a look. My 106 project car has stood for about 8 months and yesterday I released all of the brakes just by belting them with a rubber mallet a few times and then pulling it forwards a bit (enough to compress the suspension) with a towbar and another car. Both front ones released first go and the rears released about about a meter of forward dragging and one shunt backwards.
   
   Oh and I really wouldn't drive yours anywhere with non functional brakes.
10. Bunglebee Newbie Joined: Oct 2010 Skipton UK Posts: 9 SAXO 1.2

    #10 15th May 2011, 13:48

    the breaks worked just slow to respond and having to slam on to get them working
    
    AA guy came out and sad likely I've stripped the lining off the breaks.
    
    took it near a garage and parked it. will speak to them in the morning
11. mechsman Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2010 Bristol Posts: 906 Saxo 1.4i SX 3dr, 106 (engine swap under way), p

    #11 15th May 2011, 14:52

    Fair enough, what I said then . Slow to respond because it's like driving with no brake material on the shoes i.e. metal to metal contact. Odd that it's stuck hard enough to do that after only a week though. Mine's been stood for 8 months with the handbrake applied (yes I know that's bad) and they released fine.