Rear brakes

When out for a run in my GTA at the weekend, I noticed a rumbling sound coming from the rear of the car. at first I thought it was a wheel bearing, but when I got home & checked around, the offside wheel was hot. Obviously either the calliper is sticking or the handbrake is badly adjusted. I have removed the pads. The bearing seems ok.

I cannot wind back the piston, so I am going to buy a proper rewind tool. Is it a normal right hand tool that's needed? Also is it the same for the nearside calliper as I want to overhaul that one at some point. Or is the n/s one left handed ?

Thanks, Paul

Hi Paul .Most of the std rewind tools don't fit the piston grooves .I've got the correct tool but you should be able to rotate the piston with a sturdy flat bar of some sort .I use a broken flat file ......works better than the proper tool most of the time .
As always if you get stuck you know where I am

Thanks Lee

I found a piece of bar that fitted the slots & wound the piston back. I cleaned the pads & put them back in with coppaslip. however on pressing the pedal the pads do not release. Likewise if the handbrake is applied then released the pads do not release. It looks like the handbrake lever on the calliper is moving freely so it must be internal. I think I need to get the calliper off the car & on to the bench for an overhaul. Providing I can get the cable off the calliper !

Paul

Worth checking the flexi hose, had a couple of those collapse internally on another car I have, trapped the fluid in the caliper & held the brakes on.

Ok. I have decided to remove the calliper. I had to sacrifice the handbrake cable, which was in a poor condition anyway. I haven't got it stripped yet, but the return springs seem to be the problem - the piston is not returning when released.

Is it possible to obtain the calliper return springs ? & are new handbrake cables available ? Its the drivers side one I need, or does someone have a good one I can buy please.

Thanks, Paul

[mettersl]

Simon autos list the handbrake cables, but remember to check part numbers carefully and possibly swap sides compared to a LHd car.
On my a610 a defective cable gave the same symptoms, it dragged so the spring wasn't strong enough and that meanest the handbrake didn't adjust properly.
If I remember correctly the spring force comes from specially shaped washers within the calliper and you will need a special tool to dismantle or reassemble it.
Brakes international or big red provide decent rebuild services or one side was available new on eBay recently.
Cheers
Lee

I think I have a drivers side cable from Simon in stock + a few scrap caliper bodies for the springs + the special tool + I do have refurbished units on the bench .As Lee says the return springs are belleville washers,about 5 or 6 .Usually it's the arm going over center that causes problems,the cam pops out .
Here's a guide
http://www.retro-renault.com/forums/mec ... ipers.html

I bought a set of handbrake cables from Simon auto when Stephen Dell paid them a visit earlier this year. He confirmed the LHD and rhd are the same.

[mettersl]

Hi Mogster,
On the A610 the handbrake cables are the same LHD and RHD, but they swap sides, the parts book doesn't make this clear. I dont know if this is true of the GTA too.

Something to watch.
Lee

All sorted now, thanks for the advice. The piston seemed to be sticking in the calliper, so a strip down & rebuild with new seals & a new cable have fixed it.

Paul