Sticking Brakes

[John]

On an SPF with Willwoods, I'm having an issue with the rear brakes sticking intermittently. A light tap on the pedal frees them. Any suggestions?

 

[Cliff Beer]

Sometimes brake lines can swell internally leaving residual pressure downstream. But, I doubt your SPF has brake lines old enough to have that problem however.

Does your MC have a return spring?

 

[John]

Thanks for the reply, Cliff. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the MC at the base of the brake pedal on the pedal box? I don't know about the spring but I'll check.

 

[Cliff Beer]

Thanks for the reply, Cliff. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the MC at the base of the brake pedal on the pedal box? I don't know about the spring but I'll check.

Hi John,

Yup, that's exactly right. It'll be attached to the pedal either directly or via an adjustable bias bar (usually that means two MC's). Probably worth checking the mechanism to make sure there's no binding, perhaps put a little WD40 on the linkage mechanism and if that doesn't work then it'll most likely be either corrosion in the brake caliper pistons (in the interface between the pistons and the bore) or there's something amiss in the MC. Would be good to get a schematic of your MC and carefully take it apart to compare and make sure all parts/seals are present and not binding.

Good luck!

 

[John]

Again, I appreciate the help. From a recent sojourn to the depths of that part of the car, I don't recall a spring on the bias bar. I'll lube it, however, with silicone, which doesn't attract dirt like WD40 can. On the other hand, the 40 in the name of that product has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?