Binding Calliper - Long Story!

[Risocco]

OK, so yesterday after 18 or so months my car was road legal again. Went for a drive when things got weird. Sudden loss of power while driving around 60/70 up a long uphill stretch. Figured it was a fuelling issue due to the twin carbs fitted. Pulled over for a minute and drove off again happy as larry.

1 mile later major issue. No power at all, and while coasting to a stop (thankfully into a pub car-park) dipping the clutch pedal caused the car to stop dead, engine still running. Naturally, ruling out a fuel issue. Confused as hell, I tried to pull away but went nowhere. Raised the revs up and car crawled a little at a very slow speed and caused an unholy amount of smoke from under the bonnet. and a truly horrible smell. Not burnt clutch, totally metallic. Killed the engine, waited for 5 mins tried again and still wouldn't let me go anywhere.

Then threw a tantrum and got a lift home, vowing to set fire to the car the next morning.

Went to try my luck today, turned the key, fired up, selected 1st and it drove faultlessly all the way home, around 5 miles?

So, what the hell?!?!? Is there something very wrong with my clutch, release bearing or arm? Maybe linkage? I want to love this car again, but its making it very difficult!

Please guys, I appreciate this is a long post but any help you can give would be grand.

[Risocco]

Well, car has done it again. Its currently dumped on one of the roughest estates in Kidderminster. Think Shameless and you're kinda there.

So, we lose power, come to a halt, dipping the clutch pedal while coasting in gear acts as a brake, come to a stop, go to pull away and nothing. Car just revs and goes nowhere. The gearbox is in gear, even tho the gear stick is in neutral, because you can't push it anywhere, yet it won't drive?

WT actual F?

So is the clutch stuck on? Or is it a problem with the release? Maybe even the flywheel?

Any help guys would be great.

[Mr Funk]

How odd.

I had a problem a few months ago and it turned out that the front engine mount had lost a bolt so the mount, engine and gearbox weren't connected

[the edmundator]

Has it been making any noises? Sounds similar to the kind of problems I had when my gearbox broke. I can't remember the exact problem, but a gearbox recondition fixed it (new clutch at the same time made sense).

[Risocco]

Scratch that. Brakes are baked on. Not a gearbox issue. Thank god.

[thebrief_1979]

Sooo sticky pistons?

[Risocco]

Yeah, but more like welded on rather than sticky lol. Certainly a cheaper fix thankfully.

[GTXTRA]

OK - I remember a past member on here had a seized brake cause him to grind to a halt on way back from Santapod one year.

He only realised it was a loose caliper after buying a replacement gearbox......worth checking?

[Risocco]

Cheers Sean, already have. Went for a quick spin up and jacked the car up, wheel wouldn't turn without some serious muscle. OS wheel was also burning hot, red marks on my hand hot.

Found a place in Worcester that sells rebuild kits so will pay them a visit Wednesday. Hopefully be able to do it the weekend, weather permitting.

Again, thanks guys.

[Risocco]

Right-ho. Calliper still binding on after having it rebulit and tested. Much better than before but after a few miles the car fells sluggish and the wheel is red hot again. Is it possible that I may have warped the discs/pads?

I will not be beaten by this car!

[DT1]

I seem to remember someone else on here had a similar problem.

IIRC that turned out to be an issue with a restriction on the return of the master cylinder, effectively pressure was getting applied each time the brakes were applied but because of the restriction the pressure wasn't released.

[Nate]

I seem to remember someone else on here had a similar problem.

IIRC that turned out to be an issue with a restriction on the return of the master cylinder, effectively pressure was getting applied each time the brakes were applied but because of the restriction the pressure wasn't released.

normally that would be a flexi hose that has started to collapse internally, in effect working as a 1 way valve

[Rocco Horror]

I seem to remember someone else on here had a similar problem.

IIRC that turned out to be an issue with a restriction on the return of the master cylinder, effectively pressure was getting applied each time the brakes were applied but because of the restriction the pressure wasn't released.

normally that would be a flexi hose that has started to collapse internally, in effect working as a 1 way valve

I had that happen on a Beetle once - stamped on the pedal but instead of the flexi giving way, all the seals in the master cylinder did instead... repiped the car and a new MC sortted it out!

[marcus]

That can also be caused by the cross linkage being overadjusted (in the interests of reducing pedal play), resulting in the master cylinder piston not retracting fully.