97 Ford Escort Front brakes overheating and drag...

[Burnerman]

Hi Olly if the caliper seal was below par, there would be a good chance that it would let fluid past....but to be fair it could be playing a part in the piston retraction too. Caliper pistons are very finely ground to size; once water gets in around the dust seal there is usually rust pitting after a while. In the past I have used fine wet and dry paper on these with success, but these days I'd just replace the caliper.
If your brakes bleed well enough I'd suggest that the flexible pipe was OK, but cracking the banjo open does release the pressure that could be held on by the master cylinder - but this is most unlikely. A typical symptom of master cylinder failure is that the pedal slowly sinks to the floor when pressure is applied.
If your caliper is the type with the single bolt on the top, and a pin come hinge on the bottom, I've replaced a fair few of these.....usually due to people trying to undo the top bolt completely rather than just slackening it and hinging the thing upwards.
Good luck with it and have a good evening. Cheers John

 

[olly_k]

ok folks just a quick update I think I *might* have cracked it now

Basically following the idea that pressure might be building up in the piston I got the brakes locked up and released the bleed and fairly quickly the disk started turning again!

Anyway, decided before trying the calliper I would try the flexi hose. Went to Ford, they quoted £33 so I had a chat with the Ford mech. He suggested that I should replace the caliper and directed me to a place called Remco.
They didn't have the part in and couldn't tell me when the next suitable escort would arrive for dismantling (I guess that was a stupid question!) but the lad suggested I should try the flexi hose because lots of people end up doing this anyway after replacing the caliper!

He directed me toward Andrew Page. Part £18+vat which I was cool with so took home.

Now tonight I have broken every rule in the book but I am not going to go into that right now

Suffice it to say I have replaced the hose, been for a drive and there appears to be no drag

Slight amount of sponginess to pedal so I obviously need to do a full bleed (I didn't think I had lost much fluid at all and level didn't go down - Oh well!

I am wondering if after bleeding properly the extra pressure might bring the problem back I will find out tomorrow but so far all seems to be good

Fingers crossed it should be ok!

 

[Burnerman]

Looks like you've cracked it mate so well done!
Always try motor factors for parts like this, also springs, shocks etc as well as filters and oils.....then realise just how much main dealers are ripping you off.
John

 

[joinerjohn]

Hi Olly, I had this problem some years ago with a Ford. It turned out to be the pushrod that goes into the master cylinder from the servo unit. It's actually on a very fine screw thread and this had unscrewed very slightly. The effect was as though the brakes were dragging. Worse still.. in snow the wheels actually locked rendering the car un-driveable for a short time.

 

[olly_k]

Ta mate yes it goes to show how many possibilities there are and how many opportunities for a garage to make a mint!