Re:Re:Jimny Front Brakes Seizing

Thanks, Jimx5. This is something I'll have to look at. There have been no adjustments made, but it's possible the locknut has come off. I've been concentrating on things that might cause an intermittent problem, because if I leave the car standing for an hour or so after it's seized, it will have released and I can drive it and the brakes work normally. The first journey of the day, it will seize 99% of the time within 10mins if I drive though town, but if I park up then do the return journey, it might not seize at all. Do you think the clearance could result in this, or would it happen all of the time?

Thanks, kirkynut. I thought the same regarding the flexihoses - they're a cheap replacement and it won't do any harm changing them even if it's not the cause, but both myself and my local garage thought it was unlikely that they would both suddenly start doing it at the same time, and also both stop doing it if and when it clears itself. Also, I released the pressure on the ABS pump and both callipers instantly released, so we thought that meant the callipers were OK and the flexipipes too. We thought that if the flexipipes were holding pressure, they would still hold it if we released it further back in the system. We therefore changed the ABS pump first, but it didn't cure it.

Could it be a vacuum related issue affecting the booster. Sounds like it could be a leak if it is primarily happening from cold and then disappearing once things have a chance to warm up and settle. I'm just thinking that the release of hydraulic pressure and the freeing of the system might be coincidental with a failed vacuum component rectifying itself. Or I'm clutching at straws.

I was thinking the same direction.

Maybe try to unplug the booster vacuum hose and plug the open end of the hose.

ATTENTION: The break will be much much harder to press. So do this just to find out, if you still have the seizing issue. If the seizing stopps, the I would suspect a defect booster.

Remove the plug from the vacuum hose and attach the vacuum hose again to the booster!!!!

Attention again, the break will be much much harder to press without the booster!!! And it could be that you cannot get a decent deceleartion!

Sorry I missed your follow up question. The Swift had exactly the problem you describe. I suspect the prmary/secondary - front/rear labeling just make the system sound more complicated than it is. No matter how fancy the manufacturer makes it sound the front brakes do the stopping, the rears need to be prevented from locking.
Chris

RainerK & Lambert. I hope we're talking about the same thing - I took the vacuum hose off the servo and took it out after reading an old post. It didn't seize at first, but I didn't dare take it into town as the braking was so impaired. I took it out later that night, did the normal run through town with the vacuum hose disconnected and it seized as bad as ever. There was a loud squeal when I removed the hose, so there was a good vacuum.