[Vwdiesel] 85 Jetta TD Front brakes locking up

[Val Christian]

A light wire brushing is OK, but I would not use neversiee.  It will 
take on particulates.  The caliper bushings are meant to run dry.

Once they are pitted with rust, they have a "catch" point, and should 
really be replaced.

Also, check your pads and the sliding surface of the caliper.  I like
to dress these when doing brakes, as it keeps a pad from catching on the
sliding portion of the caliper.  If they are rusty, after sitting for 
a while, or whatever, then they could be catching on some rust.

Val


> 
> I agree, great call, you can also get new plastic
> "bushing" for little $$, so if they look bad replace
> them too.
> 
> Good luck, stinks you did all that break work but hey,
> you are good to go on front brake hardware for a long
> time.
> 
> --- James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net> wrote:
> 
> > The bushings that the caliper moves on must be
> > stuck/rusty/seized.
> > 
> > remove the two allen head bolts that holds the
> > caliper on, there are 
> > plastic sleeve things in there that they call
> > caliper bearings, remove 
> > those too. (fish them out)
> > 
> > Polish the bolts on a wire wheel, clean the caliper
> > inside bit where 
> > this stuff came from well, antisneeze the heck out
> > of it, and reassemble.
> > 
> > Problem should vanish.
> > 
> > Head gasket would be incidental.
> > So would the master cylinder change.
> > 
> > Problem is in the calipers.
> > 
> > I bet you have one pad worn way more than the other
> > too, on the side 
> > opposite the piston.  The caliper moves over to
> > squeeze on the rotor, 
> > but can't move back, because the semi-stuck bushings
> > hold it from moving.
> > 
> > There is special high temp grease for caliper
> > bushings, but anti-seize 
> > works just fine.
> > 
> > -james
> > 
> > Doyt W. Echelberger wrote:
> > > About a month ago my aging 85 Jetta TD developed a
> > brake problem. I'd drive 
> > > it about 5 miles and then the front brakes started
> > dragging and making the 
> > > engine labor. The front hubs got hot and were
> > smoking, and I had to stop 
> > > driving the car and let everything cool down. 
> > This problem developed on 
> > > the test drive after replacing the head gasket,
> > which may only be 
> > > incidental.  Same brake problem showed up about 6
> > months ago, and I swapped 
> > > in a new master cylinder and the problem went
> > away.
> > > 
> > > OK, I did some easy fixes....  First, I replaced
> > the master cylinder. It 
> > > was still under warranty and the replacement was
> > free, so I just did it. 
> > > That stopped the passenger side front brake
> > problem, but the driver side 
> > > front brake just kept on locking up.  "I'm gonna
> > fix that," (sez I).....and 
> > > replaced the caliper and both the hard line and
> > the flexible hose on that 
> > > side.   It didn't change anything except the
> > thickness of my wallet.
> > > 
> > > Driver front brake still locks up after driving
> > about 5 miles.
> > > 
> > > So, all the easy answers seem to be used up.   I'm
> > obviously overlooking 
> > > something....probably obvious to someone....or at
> > least I hope so.     Help.
> > > 
> > > Doyt Echelberger
> > > old guy in Ohio
> > > 
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> 
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