Havard Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hi Guys!! When a car is MOT'd what do they do with the brakes?? My car went straight through it's MOT on Wednesday but I have noticed that the front passenger side wheel is now collecting a massive amount of brake dust compared to the other wheels!! This wasn't the case before the MOT... What could possibly cause this?? Thanks H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_blackman Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Sticky caliper wearing the pads out I guess.... They should check brakes for wear/corrotion etc but not take them apart... perhaps they knocked them when putting the wheels back on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukApache Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 i think the brake test they do on an mot is supposed to stress them a bit i.e. make sure they wont fail in an emergency. Might have caused a caliper to stick as dr_blackman said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted August 10, 2007 Author Share Posted August 10, 2007 i think the brake test they do on an mot is supposed to stress them a bit i.e. make sure they wont fail in an emergency. Might have caused a caliper to stick as dr_blackman said I bet I won't get anywhere taking it back to them then?? Is refurbing them a difficult job? I'll do a search on here aswell!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Brake test for the mot is on a rollong road and just measures the braking pressures of each wheel. Doubt very much its anything an mot could have done and also they dont remove the wheels so cant be that. Get the car jacked up and see how free the wheel spins as that should be a bit stiffer if the caliper is siezing. Does the car pull to the left ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_blackman Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 I believe mine sticks on the odd occasion.... have a proper look, take the pad out etc. You might find they had a play on that one brake. They will only deny it was anything to do with them unfortunately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 I believe mine sticks on the odd occasion.... have a proper look, take the pad out etc. You might find they had a play on that one brake. They will only deny it was anything to do with them unfortunately! MOT Testers dont do anything to a car other than test it, the worst they do is tap along the underneath for rotten sills etc or put a pribar between ball joints to feel for play, they def wouldnt be taking wheels off and fiddleing with your brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_blackman Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Well perhaps this dodgy mot tester did lol.... Who know's bar have a look Harvard if not get a brake inspection done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Get the car looked at asap, sometimes things just go wrong and coincide with something else. Are your brakes the original calipers ? one of my rears siezed for no apparent reason untill i stripped it, i found one piston outer seal split and the piston itself very rusty and had just locked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Well perhaps this dodgy mot tester did lol.... Who know's bar have a look Harvard if not get a brake inspection done The dodgy testers dont put the car on the ramp usually, just print out a cert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j80leo Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 as dunk says the mot inspector only checks the brakes at does not remove anything on the car:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_blackman Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 True lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 if it pulls to one side when gently breaking it could well be a caliper sticking.im sure they only visualy check the pads to see how much meat is left on them.the brake test is a ratio of the cars weight to its breaking performance its got to be something like 50%. it may just be one of those things a coincidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 Right, I have had it to a mates garage as I have a big skip on my drive and haven't got room to work on the car this week. The upper piston in the caliper is seized solid and is only braking on the bottom one which is free. Been given a price of £125.00 for a new one and £15 for fitting as a favour!! The gargage who did the MOT have offered to look at it but I would expect that they will bill me for their time. I think a new caliper is probably the best way to go!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 at least you know what the problem is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheefa Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 H, CW freed my seized calliper which was also causing problems for about £60iirc and it worked perfectly from there on after. Maybe worth a shot rather than forking out double for a new one bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_blackman Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Brake upgrade time My next major mod will be my brakes The pads have some life yet still so it can wait for a few k yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 If its not too badly siezed then it might be saveable, a lot deepends on if the piston is scored or heavily pitted. If its not too bad then you can use something like 2000 wet and dry flatting paper with a squirt of wd40 and clean off the piston outer diameter. Worth a look, is the outer seal damaged, seal kits arent much even from Mr T, £40 ish for a seal kit for uk spec 4 pots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 It's ok gents!! Shytot came round earlier and dropped off his old j-spec calipers....... All I need to do now is paint them white and off to Mascrat we go......... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 It's ok gents!! Shytot came round earlier and dropped off his old j-spec calipers....... All I need to do now is paint them white and off to Mascrat we go......... H. Nice easy fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 Nice easy fix You're not kidding!! I have put up a thread of its own to say a big thanks!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TT-DEK Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Havard, mine seized last week. Took it apart and found the plastic, an rubber had just melted? so i just took them out, put copper anti-seize in and now there fine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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