Had my S2000 MOT'd last week and they told me a front brake was binding. I hadn't noticed anything, but thought i'd get it sorted when I got new tyres put on in the near future.

Anyway, the car has just started vibrating quite heavily, especially while braking. I can feel it through the pedals and sterring wheel. This morning I drove to work without using the brakes, but it still started vibrating after about 15 minutes of driving, as I was crusing along at about 60mph. It's starting to generate a build up of brake dust on the OSF wheel, which also glows warm after a drive.

It's booked into the garage, but won't be seen for 9 days unfortunately. I'm guessing it is a binding caliper. What do you think the damage will be, in terms of parts required? Also, do you think something should have been done at the MOT? It's a little coincodence that it got noticable and worse straight after the MOT, but even at the MOT they maybe should have done something.

 

Prices will vary between maybe 100 for a decent friendly garage to 600 for a garage that's after your money...

 

Wow if the wheel is glowing warm then I'd be surprised the tyre wasn't on fire.

I would have expected the MOT tester to do exactly what they did and advise you it was binding and will need looking at. Or possibly fail it there and then but I don't know the exact rules.

You might need new discs and pads as well as the caliper fix (new or recon or servicing). Not sure that it'll affect the hub or bearings but it can't be good to cook them up like that.

 

I need both fronts done. Passed the MOT as they aren't binding but they won't wind back when I come to put new pads in.

It's a false economy not to get the binding ones done immediately as you'll warp your discs very quickly.

Get one from brakes international and find a garage that will do it tomorrow.

 

I'm amazed if the wheel was glowing hot that the disc didn't shatter, let alone warp!

I'd budget for a new set of pads, discs and reconditioned caliper and then an hour, 2 hours labour on top. Anymore, you're getting mugged off!

 

He probably just means it was radiating heat instead of it actually being red hot..

 

I've been looking at calipers recently too as the other day my car was behaving as though it had a warped disc (on/off brakes when braking lightly) and FR was a lot hotter than the other wheels/discs/calipers. Also lots more brake dust.

Anyway cheapest I've seen is eBay for £59.99 per caliper - £15 of that is a surcharge which would be refunded if send them the old caliper.

ATM trying to decide if to replace both fronts as hate replacing individual parts (especially on brakes/susp) but probably take a look at them at the weekend and decide then

 

Thanks. Yes, it was only radiating heat, not literally glowing. I can probably still touch the alloys.

It's a bit annoying that when it passed the MOT, I was told it was fine and that I could pick it up, which I did a few hours later. However, if they'd told me at the time that it was binding and needed seeing to, they could have done it then, whilst I was on my way to pick it up. At this point i'd rather it had failed the MOT.

 

MOT lasts less than an hour. You think they should have ordered a replacement caliper, changed it, and bled the brakes all in the same time and without asking you first?

 

BTW when I had a sticking front, I replaced the calliper and left the same pads and disks on even though one pad was much more worn the others. Then at MOT time it failed the front brake test on too much of a performance difference between the two sides. So I had to buy new disks and pads anyway.