Hi folks,

I have a seized rear left caliper - just went for about a 10 miles drive and that wheel is hot to the touch (other rear wheel is warm, 2 fronts are fairly cool). I checked how hot they were because toward the end of the drive the brake pedal went nearly to the floor and just about stopped the car. The pedal would pump up occasionally, but other times it would need to go to the floor to stop the car (I was near home luckily).

My master cylinder looks like it has a little surface rust on it, but I think it's otherwise Ok (I'd initially suspected it when the pedal went to the floor).

When I got home I took the cap off the brake reservoir and it was nearly overflowing.

My thinking is; the rear left caliper is seized, which overheated the brake fluid so that there was air in it (I've only just bought the car and not changed the fluid yet), leading to the pedal to the floor issue.

Does this sound correct to you guys?

Thanks
Mike

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280CE auto in metallic blue (97k miles), bought as a project; converted to 230CE, hopefully ending up immaculate.

Mike, a collapsed brake hose at the left rear caliper may be restricting brake fluid flow and not allowing the caliper to release properly. Suggest opening the bleeder and see if you can get the caliper piston(s) to move without too much effort. If not, you need a new caliper. In older automobiles (approx. 15 years) it's a good idea to replace the brake hoses.

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Fred Hoelzle

And don't just replace one caliper, replace the axle set.

Thanks for the responses. I got the car fairly recently so have a load of service and other parts coming soon including 4 new flexi hoses.

If it were a collapsed hose would that cause boiling of the fluid and the pedal going to the floor do you think? It'd be great if it were a hose as it'd be less work than a jammed caliper.

Mike

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280CE auto in metallic blue (97k miles), bought as a project; converted to 230CE, hopefully ending up immaculate.