My Front Brakes Are Clamping While Driving

[SiR_RB]

Today I noticed when I took the car for a drive that it felt like something was holding it back, I did afew hard stops then continued to drive normally and still did the same thing

I then stopped on a slight incline took my foot of the brakes and the car didn't roll back.

I've had these calipers on my car for afew months now and it never did this, although when I used to drive past a wall for example I could hear a slight metal to metal noise, like the brake pads were slightly touching the rotors.

When I first put the brakes on the car there were no shims on the pads so I put some on and also that red shim anti squeal paste. I think the slight metal to metal noise started when I put the shims on?

What caused my fronts to start clamping today out of no where? I could also smell them after 15mins of braking

Any info would be great as I have tomorrow off to fix the prob

[Dobz]

When I first put the brakes on the car there were no shims on the pads so I put some on and also that red shim anti squeal paste. I think the slight metal to metal noise started when I put the shims on?

What caused my fronts to start clamping today out of no where? I could also smell them after 15mins of braking

You may have answered your own question.

Take the shims out and see if it changes anything.

[smithy85]

Shims could the problem or something simple like the handbrake?

[SiR_RB]

ok well i got back home from my gf's place and when i got home i had a look at the front brakes, the drivers side were very hot ! and passenger side was much much cooler, so it seems like the drivers side one in holding the pads firm against the rotor.

also noticed the drivers wheel gets more dustier then the passenger one...

il check out the shims tomorow

anything else worth trying?

[zebra]

Is it just one side of the rotor that is hot? (kinda hard to tell I know)

The caliper adapter might be just slightly off centre.

[Roy]

New or used APs? Most likely a stubborn piston that isnt too happy about going back into the caliper. Take the pads out and see of all the pistons freely move

[MrStabby]

il check out the shims tomorow

Do you remember if the rotor spun freely after you installed the shims? The shims will only be a problem if the shim+pads+rotor combined thickness causes it to bind.

Following on from what Roy said, be careful not to push a piston all the way out, so go gradually and put something in the caliper space to hold back the pistons that are moving well, and identify the stuck piston. Just installing the old worn pads should give you enough space. If you're doing it by yourself check the pistons between each pedal press. You may even find the stuck piston frees up after moving it out and back in again.

[fastjetjockey]

Could be a stuck piston, or your rotor is not running true. As was mentioned, check to see if one side is hotter. Or grab your old pads and check to see if they wore evenly. If not then your rotor is running off centre and needs to be remachined or reseated.

[SiR_RB]

ok i took the pads out and they were realy hard to take out, the anti squeal goo from behind the shims had leaked, maybe with the heat and bonded the pads to the pistons, and the pistons to the caliper :S was real messy so i took all the goo out cleaned around the pistons, put them all the way in and out.

no stuck pistons which is good !

ive got everything back together but i havent had a chance to take the car out yet...

will report back later tonight

cheers for the replys

[MrStabby]

the anti squeal goo from behind the shims had leaked, maybe with the heat and bonded the pads to the pistons, and the pistons to the caliper

That's how its supposed to be. Squeal can be caused by vibration between the pad backing plate and the piston, so gluing them together stops the squeal.

[SiR_RB]

Took the car out this morning and all is good everything back to normal !

Thanks for everyones input