Leaking rear caliper

[chris_rd92]

Hi guys,

So this evening I was driving home from work and noticed the pedal felt a bit softer than I remembered. By the time I pulled into the driveway my foot was almost to the floor on the brake pedal.

I checked the fluid level in the master cylinder and it seems to have dropped dramatically. I began the hunt for the leak, and I think I've found it on the left rear caliper. I've not been able to jack the car up yet, but the back of the tyre is completely wet with brake fluid.

If this is the caliper, do people recon this is repairable? If not, where is the best place to get a replacement one fast? This car is my daily driver so this is a real ball ache

Car is 97 5th gen BB8 2.2vti 5 speed.

Thanks in advance!
Chris

[toadster]

Lo
I have had three reconditioned brake calipers on My Lude over time.
My normal garage just got them in for Me and they exchange the old one's.
Mine where changed because they had started to seize up.
I didn't have leak on any of them.
Could it just be the brake line ?
There are people on here with much more knowledge than Me though
Hopefully someone will add some advice.
Cheers
Toadster

[Scott560]

It's probably more likely to be the brake hose or brake pipe. Calipers can be rebuilt. The last time I needed a rear 5th gen I just went straight to euro car parts and bought 2. Took the old 2 back the following week and got my core refund.

If it's a brake hose that's easy enough to replace. Worth doing all 4 obviously since you have to bleed it all anyways. If it's the hard line then you might be better off a garage doing it unless you fancy rolling around under the car.

Calipers can be repaired depending on which seal has failed, but if it's your daily the cost isn't worth the time off the road if you ask me...

[wurlycorner]

Yep, agreed - you can pick up calipers for these from eurocarparts easy enough. Pagid rebuilds, which are good.

Other cheaper options (if you can cope with your car being off the road for a while) are brakesinternational or BiggRed - but for both of those these days, you'll have to send yours off for rebuild - they don't carry stock of them now.

[chris_rd92]

Thanks guys! Just an update, I've found that it is indeed the caliper leaking. It seams the rubber seal at the handbrake mechanism is no longer doing it's job, which is strange though as it looks fine. I tried bodging it by making a few rubber washers to pack it out which helped a tiny bit, but it's still leaking. I've ordered a replacement from euro car parts which I should be able to pick up Monday morning. Thankfully the hoses all look very good still!

[toadster]

Great Stuff
Cheers
Toadster

[chris_rd92]

Bit of a disgruntled update! So the brakes worked nicely to and from work, got home today with no drama. I should mention the driveway is fairly steep. You can probably see where this is going...

Half an hour later I get a knock on the door from the neighbour to tell my car is in the bloody road! Thankfully it's a quiet cul-de-sac . The brakes still feel fine but the handbrake is now next to useless. Any ideas?

[toadster]

Lo
Blimous
That was a bit lucky.
Did it hit anything I'm guessing not.
Did You get the replacement caliper fitted
Hopefully someone on here will give You a heads-up.
Cheers
Toadster

[chris_rd92]

Thankfully it didn't hit anything! Just gradually rolled peacefully out in to the middle of the road and sat there until the neighbour turned up!
Sorry yes I should have said I managed to get the new caliper fitted yesterday evening and had assumed all was well. What's strange is that after a quick drive the handbrake was back to normal again, so I can only assume there's still a little bit of air in the system.

[toadster]

Lo
That's great news on both counts
I would double check the handbrake with Your fitter though just to be sure.
Cheers
Toadster