Front brakes stuck on

[Digsy]

Well, another morning, another attempt to use the car thwarted. Today I get in, fire her up, pop her in reverse and squeeze the throttle - no movement. OK. Squeeze a little harder - wheelspin (gravel drive) but no motion. Another go meets the same result. Next I try going forwards - again wheels spin but no progress. I try this a couple of times in both directions without any luck. I try giving it a push from outside but the car's wet, weighs 2 tonnes and I'm on my lonesome, so it achieves nothing. At this point the car has dug itself into the gravel at the rear and I give up, shouting some choice expletives and grabbing the keys to the Land Rover.

The car had been parked for 6 days. I didn't wash it before parking up but needless to say it has rained. Now if it was on tarmac I could give it some beans and I suspect it would unstick the front brakes but I'm worried about peppering the car with gravel or indeed anything/anyone else.

Bright ideas please?

 

[bigbob]

Maser in neutral, Land Rover, tow rope, pull it onto tarmac?

 

[Digsy]

That did cross my mind. Is there a tow hook at the rear? (I'm in the office now so can't check, not just lazy!)

 

[Doohickey]

I always make sure that I turn the parking brake off before I leave it. Mine's automatic so I also rock it back and forth a bit before I leave it to try to free up the brakes as much as possible.

Not much help now admittedly!

 

[StuartW]

I always make sure that I turn the parking brake off before I leave it. Mine's automatic so I also rock it back and forth a bit before I leave it to try to free up the brakes as much as possible.

Not much help now admittedly!

That's fine for the rear brakes but the EPB is only applied via the shoes to the rear discs as far as I know?

 

[CatmanV2]

That's fine for the rear brakes but the EPB is only applied via the shoes to the rear discs as far as I know?

Correct and the rear wheels are spinning (unless he's got the incredibly rare AWD version)

So the front pads have stuck to the discs, which is a PITA. The only way is going to be to drag it gently. Although ice mode *might* help, I rather doubt it.

And hope the pads don't break up

C

 

[Contigo]

Put it in Reverse accelerate a little, then put it in first accelerate a little (then repeat) basically rocking the car backwards and forwards and it will all loosen off.

 

[TheYoungconnoisseur]

i HATE the EPB on this thing. mine make a clicking noise a lot while driving from the rear end when changing loading directions and will not hold the car at all at my home up north which has an average * driveway. total piece of ****, much like the manual parking brakes on every bmw M car I've had.

 

[Contigo]

Mine lunched itself , killed the EPB ECU, disintegrated the shoes , ripped the hub off and scored the rear discs.

A Joke of a system so much so that I disable the EPB (park off button) everytime I leave it on the drive especially with any damp weather.

 

[Contigo]

Total Bill £3157.91

 

[Gp79]

If you're handy with the spanners then remove wheel(s) and take pads out or caliper off to see what is going on.

It's not worth damaging anything by dragging the car.

Or call a mobile mechanic to do the above if needed

 

[Digsy]

If you're handy with the spanners then remove wheel(s) and take pads out or caliper off to see what is going on.

It's not worth damaging anything by dragging the car.

Or call a mobile mechanic to do the above if needed

Not handly at all, sadly. I have recovery with the warranty I got with the car. Will give them a call tomorrow and see if it's covered.

 

[bigbob]

That's painfull. My car failed its 3rd MOT (so 5 years old) as the EPB was dis-integrating but the basic parts are quite cheap. Mind many EPB systems are useless and fail when a manual handbrake would not. Progress!

 

[outrun]

Try tapping the calipers, being careful not to chip the paint. It used to work a treat on my GS when the brakes did the same thing.

 

[bigbob]

Not handly at all, sadly. I have recovery with the warranty I got with the car. Will give them a call tomorrow and see if it's covered.

If you have the Maserati warranty it's very comprehensive and they will send an engineer out to your home tonight and a loan car if necessary.

 

[Digsy]

If you have the Maserati warranty it's very comprehensive and they will send an engineer out to your home tonight and a loan car if necessary.

Unfortunately it's a third party one and not likely to be anywhere near as good.

 

[CatmanV2]

Unfortunately it's a third party one and not likely to be anywhere near as good.

Phil's technique might be worth a go. Depends how much traction you have on the rear, sadly

C

 

[Contigo]

Phil's technique might be worth a go. Depends how much traction you have on the rear, sadly

C

It works, I did it only this morning.

 

[CatmanV2]

It works, I did it only this morning.

Yes but we know you have plenty behind

C

 

[SJX]

Had a similar problem with Clio v6, damp weather would cause pads to stick to discs on a gravel drive. The only solution was to remove wheels and then pads. Transpired that Porsche were experiencing same issue, turned out to be the pads that had been manufactured with too high a content of metal.
I got all new discs and pads fitted by Renault under warranty and problem solved, albeit car is now garaged and always drive it back and forth after washing as can still stick a little.