Brakes: Help front brakes MOT failure

[coaster22]

Car was sailing through MOT until front brakes were tested on the rollinh road. Showed a big imbalance, suspect they are partially seized and need an overhaul. Have done 4 pot brakes on a TVR and they were a pig of a job. The mechanic who tested the car said that it could be done without removing the calipers !, I have my doubts. Has anybody out there any experience on this one, just ordered seal sets from Ray Chapman in Malton.
Car also failed on battery tray and fixing but got a new( ish ) one from T.J.Stone for a couple of quid complete with fixings.
Did intend a full strip down if the car failed the MOT but there so few faults and its a joy to drive that the stripdown is waiting until winter. Cheers

[Clifford Pope]

I've never replaced calipers or seals even on high mileage cars.
All they need is a bit of brake fluid running round the edge for lubrication, then leaver the pistons in with a suitable tool. Insert some old worn out pads to give maximum movement, then press the pistons out again with the pedal.
Do this as many times as necessary, and they always free up.

Don't press the pedal very far each stroke, use a series of short strokes with a pause in between.

[Antz]

Good old Ray Chapmans at Malton. They are really helpful guys there. Unfortunately Im there that often Im now on first name terms with the guys in the parts department.

[coaster22]

Cheers Mr Pope, your advice will be my starting point tomorrow suspect any sticking is close to the dust cover end anyway, will let you Know.
Cheers Antz, that will be Steve Worsley at Chapmans, they are excellent. Thanks for the recommend. Coaster

[cookie]

whip out pads, good clean up and grease on guides etc, and put back together, usually find just stuck with loads of rust, dust and general crud

[heckflosse]

Originally Posted by coaster22

Car was sailing through MOT until front brakes were tested on the rollinh road. Showed a big imbalance, suspect they are partially seized and need an overhaul. Have done 4 pot brakes on a TVR and they were a pig of a job. The mechanic who tested the car said that it could be done without removing the calipers !, I have my doubts. Has anybody out there any experience on this one, just ordered seal sets from Ray Chapman in Malton.
Car also failed on battery tray and fixing but got a new( ish ) one from T.J.Stone for a couple of quid complete with fixings.
Did intend a full strip down if the car failed the MOT but there so few faults and its a joy to drive that the stripdown is waiting until winter. Cheers

Whilst I agreethe pistons can sometimes be freed off enough to pass, if you are really planning on keeping the car, new calipers are going to be the way to go.
The imbalance part of the test got hotter this week, and standards are creeping up.Old cars need to be good.
Besides, having good brakes is part of the pleasure of driving a classic Volvo- try a contemporary Ford for comparison.
Regards,
James.

[coaster22]

Cheers, your'e right on this one will get the car through the MOT then on the re-build fit new or overhaul the calipers. I have used a company called Big Red before and they are good on rebuilds. Will certainly be keeping this car for a long long time. Have tried to find my old Volvo 240 reg REM 40T which we owned back in 1988, wondered if it was still out there, is there any way of tracing cars from the registration ?

[DW42]

You can check whether the car has a current tax disc on the DVLA website. Your old Volvo REM40T hasn't been taxed since 1994, but hasn't been officially scrapped either. Could be sitting in some field, barn or allotment... When I left the UK last year I sold both of my volvos (a 144 and a 240) in very good working order. Now the 240 is unregistered, and the 140 is SORN'ed. Most people don't look after their cars...

[minesa240x3]

Ah REM40T that would be the green one first registered in Liverpool with the 2127cc engine,Road fund license was due on 5-2-1994.

For tax checking and to see if it's vanished taxed or sorn go to www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk.
Once the tax disc page opens go to vehicle enquiry, Then vehicle enquiry continue, Fill in the reg at the top, Scroll down the list of vehicles click on submit and all will be revealed unless it's been scrapped officially and then nothing comes up.
And to see where it was first registered go to www.regarchive.com.
Just enter the reg in the box top right and if found it will appear to the left lower down in red,Hover over it and it will turn green, Just click on it and all will be revealed.

To check if a vehicle is currently insured go to www.ownvehicle.askmid.com
Fill in the reg number and click the little box to confirm it's YOUR vehicle. enter the squiggly password and click the big green button with askmid at the bottom.

Regards Brian.

[coaster22]

Cheers for that info , will be having a look at these sites , I still have a few family pics with it on, but it was a chocolate brown one with a full webasto folding roof ( saloon ), bought for c £750 in Ormskirk, Lancashire. Cheers again