winter storage and seized brakes

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <NJvgg.1$LV.250@news20.bellglobal.com>,
> Luch Ognibene <ognibene RemoveThis @sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>>Stored a 325i over the winter, took care to run the engine and drive the
>>car every couple of weeks to keep the battery in good condition and
>>ensure brakes wouldn't seize. Last week tried to bring car out of
>>garage and found the brakes seized (and had driven the car the week
>>before) - car will not move either forward or backward. Any
>>suggestions on how I can correct the problem, or am I looking at having
>>to get a tow to the mechanics to correct?
>
>
> Did you leave the handbrake on? If so try rocking the car back and forward.

That's not a bad idea, but I suspect that it may be only enough to get
the car to a mechanic, and runs the risk of warping the rotors due to
the brakes dragging all the way there and building up heat unevenly.

I would strongly suspect that the problem is corrosion of the front
brake pistons or calipers. Since brake fluid is hygroscopic (that is,
it attracts water) a vehicle that sits for a long time will sometimes
get water in the brake lines due to condensation. Since water has a
higher density than brake fluid, any water in the system tends to sinks
to the lowest point in the system which, of course, is the brake
calipers and that causes corrosion over time. The solution is to
disassemble and rebuild the calipers. It's a messy but not a difficult
job if you're interested in doing your own work. If you decide not to
do your own work, I'd say that it may be prudent to get it hauled using
what we call "roll-back" trucks around here. With such trucks, the car
is sitting entirely on top of the truck -- you don't want the kind that
just picks up one end and pulls since you don't want the wheels rotating
for long distances.

For those of us who don't (yet) have this problem, it's a reminder that
brake fluid should be changed at least yearly, whether you drive the car
or not!

Ed
 >> Stay informed about: winter storage and seized brakes 

In article <iMAgg.1303$lp.77@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
Ed Beroset <beroset DeleteThis @mindspring.com> wrote:
> > Did you leave the handbrake on? If so try rocking the car back and
> > forward.

> That's not a bad idea, but I suspect that it may be only enough to get
> the car to a mechanic, and runs the risk of warping the rotors due to
> the brakes dragging all the way there and building up heat unevenly.

The handbrake uses drums...

--
*Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.

Dave Plowman dave DeleteThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: winter storage and seized brakes