240 General: Sticking brake caliper

[PTJS]

Hi All

Some time since I last posted a thread as no major probs. Not bad for 26 years of ownership and 206k. Old Faithful passed her MOT last week with a clean sheet again apart from an advisory on low brake pads, particularly front nearside. I had noticed one pad here was wearing more than the others when i last replaced the pads 5 years ago so it must be a slightly sticking caliper(s) causing the extra wear. If possible I just want to clean up and lube the caliper en situ to restore its full operation so any tips as to how best to go about this would be welcome.

Cheers

Phil

[Clifford Pope]

Clean any dust or rust away from the exposed side of the piston and run a few drops of brake fluid round it.
Then lever it back in, protecting the disc and piston end with metal shims, such as a pair of worn out pads.
Push it back in as far as possible, then very gently pump it out again with the pedal. leave a worn shim in position to prevent any risk of the piston popping out, and DO NOT pump the pedal far on each stroke - only as far as you would depress the pedal in ordinary braking.

Then apply a bit more fluid, and lever it in again.
Keep repeating this until it will move freely, and can be pushed in fully.

Then put in new pads.

It has worked every time for me, even with pistons that appeared solid.

For a really bad case, swing the caliper clear, remove the disc, refit the caliper, and then hammer in a tapered wedge between the opposing pistons, protecting of course with old pads or bits of metal.