Advice on cracked rear discs...

[Oggy997]

Thanks for looking...

Around the end of September '09 I noticed my rear drivers side brake disc had cracked, so I parked the car up - and had a mate fit a new set of Rear Discs & Pads.

Recently Ive heard a small noise from the rear of the car but it was alot worse today, nipped out to check what it was - another cracked rear disc, this time passenger side.

Discs and Pads, as I said were brand new at the Start of October, made by Apec

The discs were changed initally from new at 35,000 miles or something, then 70,000 (Sept/Oct) Now they've cracked mid Februrary.

Does anyone know what might be causing this? Bad Luck?

I dont want to commit to buying better manufactuered brakes, and an extra cost, for them to crack within 6 months too.

Thanks,

Oggy

 

[DrR]

Cheap discs?

I think the generall opinion is to get the standard ones.

 

[Oggy997]

Well they were not expensive, but I kind of expected more than 5 months of commuting to work and back from them

 

[maynard]

Well they were not expensive, but I kind of expected more than 5 months of commuting to work and back from them

It's what you get for buying cheap discs. Best advice I can give is to buy the best OE parts you can find, or in the rear disc case, genuine renault items.

 

[Oggy997]

Cool,

Will order some,thank god I'm off work for 6 days

 

[JFS]

Hiyer matey, I had the same thing happen to me. Both rear disks cracked in november, had both changed but by january rear drivers disk cracked again. Took it back and had them changed again and turned out the rear calipers where to tight putting them under to much pressure, seems fine since. Hope this helps.

 

[Oggy997]

Well, I've purchased some genuine rears from NW Performance, should hopefully be here onday and fitted monday/Tuesday.

Lets hope it was just cheap brakes.

 

[W111ALG]

I've also had the same problem with cheap aftermarket discs but been fine ever since with genuine ones!

 

[Oggy997]

Genuine ones have cracked this time!!!!

Could do with advice on what to do now, its had new pads every time Ive fitted discs, and now Apec / Renault Discs, both have cracked.

 

[Fred@BTM]

rear calipers binding on cooking the discs?

 

[Oggy997]

Any way for me to check?

I just want this gone TBH, Ive spent a fortune on discs.

 

[Oggy997]

Just drove quickly to the shops and back, had a look at it.

It's cracked at a 180° effectively, each side of the rear/passenger side disc.

It was drivers side, passengers side, then now passengers side (each time Ive had them crack)

However, my Turini was warm near the Hub on the "cracked" side, cold on the side that isnt cracked.

Does this offer any insight?

 

[Henry]

on the hot side, jack it up and see if it's binding (it will be by sounds of it). start by levering the handbrake arm back to see if that frees the wheel. problem with cables/handbrake mech in caliper if it does (both fairly easy to fix)

 

[Oggy997]

Ok, Thanks Henry

Just jacked up the car, checked both sides:

Passenger (cracked) side is rock solid, so thats identified what is causing the cracking.

The drivers side is stiff, not restrictive, but certainly friction, is this normal?

How should I proceed with this? Currently trying to contact my mate who fitted the discs / pads previously, I'm off work Friday, had things to do but needs must.

If not, I darent go to Kwik Fit and the likes as I'm worried they may tell me I need new calipers regardless ...

I accept that I might need them, and, in all fairness it has to be cheaper than £600 of brakes a year

Thanks again for your input, it is greatly appreciated.

 

[Henry]

i reckon it's most likely to be a handbrake problem - you can tell easily by levering the arms that the cables hook into at the calipers - lever them towards the back of the car - if they move and free the wheel off, you've a problem with either the cables or the mechanism within the caliper - neither should be all that difficult/expensive to sort out

come back if it's not that or need more info

 

[Oggy997]

Do you have an image of these?

 

[Kneel]

check the pistons on the calipers, every time I've had a sticky caliper its because the rubber boot on the piston has split. When I took mine to NWPerformance they replaced the discs and pads then wound the piston back in. I think mine are binding again but sometimes it'll sort it.

 

[Oggy997]

.

 

[Henry]

it'll be obvious when you get under to have a look at how it's connected and how it works

 

[D1CKY]

Any way for me to check?

I just want this gone TBH, Ive spent a fortune on discs.

Jack up car in a safe manner and remove rear wheels.

With handbrake off check each rear disc/hub for stiff movement (i dunno how to word it). They should move freely with not much effort.

If you have sticking calipers it should be clear which one is sticking.
You could also put the handbrake and try again for movement with that on too.

Basically what Henry said above

Just drove quickly to the shops and back, had a look at it.

It's cracked at a 180° effectively, each side of the rear/passenger side disc.

It was drivers side, passengers side, then now passengers side (each time Ive had them crack)

However, my Turini was warm near the Hub on the "cracked" side, cold on the side that isnt cracked.

Does this offer any insight?

I don't know if this is possible, but it may be due to the discs centre retaining nut being too tight (over torqued).
Or would this just kill the wheel bearings and not the discs ?

The lever the handbrake cable hooks is circled below.

Do you have an image of these?

 

[Oggy997]

Here are some pics, not the greatest - Its not too easy to get a DSLR under there tbh.

Hopefully one of them captured the cable you speak of Henry

Kneel: I don't have the tools to do that I'm afraid, would require a friend to assist.

 

[Oggy997]

^ Photo's are there but being uploaded, the Green cable I moved about but it didnt seem to have any affect.

 

[D1CKY]

^ Photo's are there but being uploaded, the Green cable I moved about but it didnt seem to have any affect.

What you call "The green cable" is the brake line that supplys hydraulic brake fluid to operate the piston.

I wouldnt be moving that about too much incase you give yourself more work.

I.e Brake Fluid Leak from a leaking brake pipe or brake pipe nipple.

I have circled where the handbrake cable comes in and hooks onto the lever on the caliper.

 

[Oggy997]

Which I now have

It "cracked" so to speak at the caliper

 

[Henry]

third picture - arm is at the bottom of the caliper. green pipe is your hydraulic line (ignore)

best way to start is to jack up the back, handbrake off, wheels on.

use a screwdriver/etc to carefully push the arms forward and unhook the cables (both sides), then check that the arms move freely through their entire range of movement (they'll be stiff, but can do it by hand). finish by levering/pulling them towards back of car and check wheels spin. if they do, you need to either renew the handbrake cables or take them off to squirt WD down them and work the cables so that they run in the outers smoothly

cables can also stretch leaving you with an imbalance (theres a compensator under the exhaust somewhere) - also have a look at that to see if it's obviously off to one side; if so, just renew cables

there's a bunch of other stuff that could be causing it, but start there as it's most likely and easiest to check/fix

 

[Henry]

Which I now have

It "cracked" so to speak at the caliper

lol
it'll be fine so long as you've not undone it

 

[Oggy997]

With no brake fluid, looks like I have plenty of time to fix it

 

[Henry]

it's actually snapped?!

 

[Oggy997]

Yes, just took the car off the kerb (as car is lowered) to park it up.

Brake Fluid everywhere.

 

[Henry]

what did you do to it?!

going to need to renew that pipe, although you may be able to re-flare the end if it's snapped at the tip

not the best of times; sorry

 

[Oggy997]

I was pushing / pulling it to see if it gave (was impatient waiting on pics to be 100% honest)

There was a slight release in tension and I knew it had "snapped"

Fortunately I knew I couldnt drive my car tomorrow anyway, but is it likely to cost me alot more to fix? I wont be driving it, so I assume the MC/Servo wont be affected.

 

[Henry]

yeah, i'd renew that now

can't see it being a cheap pipe from Renault as there's a flexi in it as well - try a breakers yard

do NOT touch the brake pedal or the fluid res cap; you may as well crimp the pipe shut where it's snapped to prevent further fluid loss

 

[Oggy997]

I *had* to brake, just that once, to park up.

Car is parked up and going nowhere- If anyone could check the Renault Parts database for a number & price I'd appreciate it.

How about fitting of that pipe? As I cant go anywhere until thats replaced.

F*ck F*ck F*ck

 

[D1CKY]

Yes, just took the car off the kerb (as car is lowered) to park it up.

Brake Fluid everywhere.

I *had* to brake, just that once, to park up.

Car is parked up and going nowhere- If anyone could check the Renault Parts database for a number & price I'd appreciate it.

How about fitting of that pipe? As I cant go anywhere until thats replaced.

F*ck F*ck F*ck

As Henry said get looking at breakers for a new brake pipe and then get that fixed then i'd worry about your discs again..

If you touch the pedal you just empty your brake fluid over you street.

If it helps i'm sure there is a PH2 172 in black being broken up for parts in the for sale section the now.

The fitting of the pipe will be straight forward, old one off new one on at both ends (if corrosion and rust dont hold you back and cause it to be tight as f**k at the end where it meets the hard brake pipe just forward of the rear axle).

Once you get it fitted, refill brake fluid and bleed brakes job done.

Then try to free off caliper or check the retaining hub nut aint to tight on the tight disc.

Since you snapped the hyd brake pipe if i was you i'd remove caliper now and try and free it off the car (much easier).
If the disc is still tight to turn with caliper off it there a good chance the retaining hub nut is too tight.

I guess as you say

"Live and learn"
"Lifes a learning curve for us all"

Let us know how you get on.

 

[Oggy997]

Is there a *correct* name for this pipe? and from how far back(or forwards) do I need it from?

 

[Oggy997]

I'd have to leave the car on Axle stands if I were to remove the caliper now??

As I dont have any here

 

[Henry]

close that pipe off as best you can and get down the pub

it's not a massive prob - just some extra work

 

[Oggy997]

Work at 6am, no pub for me.

I just wish I could get a hold of my mate

If I need to order some parts in, I need to know asap really so I can have my car for work Sunday.

Thanks alot guys.

 

[D1CKY]

I'd have to leave the car on Axle stands if I were to remove the caliper now??

As I dont have any here

Jack up
Wheel off
Caliper off (Leave hose behind for now till you get a new one)
Try and tie up hose as high as you can to stop brake fluid running out- if not get something underneath to catch fluid that will run out of it.
Wheel back on and don't move car or brakes till you get a new pipe.

close that pipe off as best you can and get down the pub

it's not a massive prob - just some extra work

Work at 6am, no pub for me.

I just wish I could get a hold of my mate

If I need to order some parts in, I need to know asap really so I can have my car for work Sunday.

Thanks alot guys.

Local pub sounds a good idea, even if working at 6

Lol

If you need car that urgently, it may be worth calling Renault first thing in morning and see if they can get a pipe for you by friday or saturday.




Failing that pm these members in meantime to see if they can a rear pipe to you in post to arrive to you before sunday.
May be worthwhile getting a couple of calipers sent to you too incase yours is sticky/seized.

The PH1 172's have rear disks too and same brake pipes and calipers

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=498248

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=511197&highlight=breaking+172

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=510923&highlight=breaking+172

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=510923&highlight=breaking+172

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=508082&highlight=breaking+172

 

[Oggy997]

Thans, didnt want to commit to Ph1 incase they didnt.

I'll be phoning Renault first thing, its not that the car is *that* important, its just I go on holiday in 3 weeks and use it daily for the commute to work.

I just want it on the road asap for peace of mind.

Thank you both, youve been a great help, and I'm glad you gave your time to assist me so thoroughly.

I'll let you now how it goes with Renault tomorrow