Nissan almera - front wheel locking up after about 30 miles!

GaelMonfils

I have an issue here with my mothers car. Its a 02 nissan almera 4 door 1.6?. When you drive more than 30 miles (ish), the front left wheel starts pulling. Upon further inspection, i noticed that its the wheel thats actually tightening or locking up. For instance, you are driving down hill and put the car into neutral, the speed will start to dramatically decrease! When i stopped the car, the heat coming from the front right wheel arch was 10 times that of the other 3.

Now, she had it nct's in november and it passed with flying colours. The mechanic who serviced it prior to nct did change the front brake pads. However, when my mother brought the car to him saying there was a problem, he said all was fine!

Any ideas greatly appreciated. Or if anyone knows any decent, honest, well priced mechanics in ballyhaunis co. mayo, id take that too!

GaelMonfils

sorry, to add to that. When the car is started from cold, there is 100% no issue.

metalgear2k2

Sounds like you might have an almost seized caliper?

Mr Benevolent

Something is seizing and if it's not fixed soon it'll wreck the caliper, pad and disc. Also it's fairly dangerous to drive like that. Get it fixed now.

rickyjb

I had a problem with a seized handbrake cable on my '02 Almera (yours is more than likely 1.5L by the way) it was sticking on the left rear I think causing the car to pull that way pretty badly. I was told at the time that water can get in easily and if it freezes it wrecks the cable. Does the handbrake lever seem very loose or doesn't drop back down?

If it's your front wheel it's probably something different though.

merc3ps

Sounds like a sticky caliper (thing that holds the brake pads).

I had a similar problem (with an old car). The pads were rubbing against the disc and overheating.

You run the risk of boiling your brake fluid.

You need to have the pads/caliper/disc checked and personally I would replace the brake fluid. Use a different mechanic.

GaelMonfils

lads, cheers for the replys. That caliper problem sounds good! Just waiting for a call back from a local mechanic, will get the thing sorted asap


(my mother would have a bloody fit if i was in possession of the car when it went bust!!)

Nissan doctor

They are prone to sticky calipers alright, I'd say thats your problem.

rusty_racer94

Calliper must be catching on the disc.

peasant

Get the wheelbearing checked while you're at it ...they don't take kindly to prolonged boiling

NeedaNewName

Nissan doctor wrote: »

They are prone to sticky calipers alright, I'd say thats your problem.

Indeed. Due to the brake fluid not being changed. There is a chemical term for what happens to the brake fluid but I can't pin it down in my head!

jimmyw

Whats the condition of the brake pipe on that side? Maybe its collasping under pressure and not releasing the piston in the caliper enough.

peasant

jimmyw wrote: »

Whats the condition of the brake pipe on that side? Maybe its collasping under pressure and not releasing the piston in the caliper enough.

SRSLY ?


(the pressure is inside the pipe ..making collapsing somewhat difficult)

antodeco

Sorry for hijcaking, but would an almost grinding sound coming from one wheel, when turning and slowing down be something similar?

crosshair1

Common problem on these is the brake pads being too tight in the slides.
I'm not sure why it's so common but I'd say half of them that I have going onto a lift arebinding when I try to move the car.
I've tried many makes of pad and all needed a slight filing before correct fitting. once that's done and they're greased problem doesn't return.

largepants

OP, I had an issue similar to you recentlyon my Almera. I was driving to work one morning and heard an usual noise coming from the fornt right wheel. I stopped and noticed smoke coming form the wheel area and it was hot to the touch.

I drove it slowly to the garage and was informed that the discs were shot. Bascially they were rusted causing the pads to stick to them. Got them both changed at a cost of 180e.

Mine had just passed the NCT last April.

RandomRs

sorry for hijacking the thread but iv had a similar problem only its like all four wheels lock together... you can drive for about 5 miles but then its like your driving with the brake on... iv replaced the front left caliper tonight as i was told ths is common fault have the right to go on in the morning, but i took the car for a drive with the left done and it drove perfect for 45 minutes efore youd be lucky to get 7-10 but then it started binding again and when you get out with it in neutral and handbrake off, there is no hope of pushing the car at all......