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  #1  
Old 10-20-2008, 11:53 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 173
Holy cow! (also - thanks to Bens Lover)

So: recently I had my car in at at a shop here in town to get a new alternator (which was in fact found to be faulty) to cure my electrical system woes.

On the way home from picking the car up, the car starting acting a little unusual - sluggish, almost like I was trying to drive with my foot on the brake. I soon realized that that was exactly what was happening - the rear calipers had both seized. Pulling over into a nearby parking lot, I got out to survey the damage. Both discs glowing red, plenty of smoke, and one of the pads with a small flame. I waited about an hour while a flatbed arrived to take me home, and in the meantime spoke to the generous and very helpful Bens Lover on the phone who graciously agreed to help me replace the rotors, calipers, and pads this weekend.

Thanks again buddy! I owe you one, for real. I am not going back to that shop in question - especially not after having sent it to them for a diagnosis, they also were quick to comment on how it seemed that my rear brakes were acting up. Now - I am an optimistic man and am willing to call this coincidence, but still. I trust myself and Bens Lover to put this right more than I trust the shop.

A cursory post mortem (very cursory) now that it is parked safely at home seems to show that I have got plenty of brake fluid, no brake hoses missing, cv boots still appear to be in order. I hope my wheel bearings are not shot to hell.

Anyhow, I guess I am not asking ay real questions here, just a story for you guys. The important thing was I didn't get in an accident!

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1984 300D Turbo, 326000 Km, Thistle Green Metallic
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  #2  
Old 10-21-2008, 01:21 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Since both back rotors where hot it means the calipers where on. Are you sure it was not the emergency brake sticking? Best to check that system out as well when your into it. For example. If you never use the emergency brake and the garage did it may have stuck.

If you eliminate the emergency brake the master cylinder becomes suspect. One of the internal rubbers is covering the internal port so the rear brakes stay on after you release the pedal. The brake fluid is blocked from returning. The overheated rotors and pads where just the end effect not the cause. I would inspect the rotors and pads you now have. They may still be good and safely usable.
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Old 10-21-2008, 01:29 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 173
I am not sure that the e-brake is not to blame. I'll have a look at the system this weekend (but I am not sure how to positively diagnose that it was the brake at fault here).

Agreed - if that is not the case, I am beginning to think that perhaps the MC is a suspect here. What is the best way to prove that it's the MC at fault?

Also, I had the shop replace my (known dead) aux water pump, and when the topped up my coolant they:

1) topped off with the green stuff
2) appear to have added too much

I'm considering draining the whole coolant system just on general principle, but should I be concerned about any harm done with the two mixed like that?

Also - I plan to inspect my current pads, rotors and calipers, but to be honest I will sleep easier at night (and drive better) knowing that I've replaced them. Brakes = safety and I don't want to take any chances there.
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1984 300D Turbo, 326000 Km, Thistle Green Metallic
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  #4  
Old 10-21-2008, 01:44 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Jack up a rear wheel and see if the brakes are still on. If so its probably the emergency brake. If brakes not on put the emergency brake on and see if it will release. This you verify by turning the wheel by hand. It was a brake problem as both rotors were glowing and one pad on fire.

Check the archives for the mixed anti freeze types information. Some are mixable and some not I believe.

I just happened to notice you have a thistle green 84 300 d. I also have a same year same wonderful :colour 300d. Purchased new in Toronto by second previous owner. Speedometer in killometers. Two sixty four or about 165 thousand miles. Picked up car as road kill quite awhile back. Has the rare rear seat headrests. Pretty good overall condition. Interior palimino colour as new. Highway quit the result of prevoius owner fouling his tank vent line.
He also cranked starter till it failed. Actually burnt the wire from solinoid to starter open. Easy fix.

Last edited by barry123400; 10-21-2008 at 01:51 AM.
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  #5  
Old 10-21-2008, 02:10 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 173
Ah - well I can do you one better. When maneuvering to have it flatbedded home... I did in fact drive the car about 4 or 5 metres in the parking lot. Ditto to put in into my underground parking spot. On both occasions, the car drove normally and coasted well in neutral. So the brakes are not still engaged. I could push the car easily in neutral as well. The brakes felt strange, to be sure, on the two brief occasions I used them - but I am not sure how to quantify "strange". Pedal travel felt normal. Both fluid reservoirs still show the correct amount of fluid.

I have not yet attempted to check the functioning of the parking brake, but I will do that tomorrow and reply back with my findings .

Thanks for the note on antifreeze. I thinking I am not going to take any chances and have it drained. The top up was only 3 litres (how many litres does the entire system hold?) so it's somewhat diluted with the 'real' stuff.

And yes - actually I love the thistle green colour. Your has less klicks than mine does (my speedo is also only in km's) but I happen to also have the rare rear headrests (which I really, really like). Same interior colour, too.

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1984 300D Turbo, 326000 Km, Thistle Green Metallic

Last edited by xdjio; 10-21-2008 at 02:16 AM.
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