Seized calipers?

Zascar

I just bought and old Porsche which had been sitting idle for a while - a lot of work has been done on it but it has not been driven much. When I drive it I thought the brakes were rubbish - but I did not expect much with a 35 year old car. Thing is I was on a hill at one stage and went to roll backwards but it did not move. I got it up on a ramp and two of the wheels move freely, whereas the other two need a really good shove to get them to rotate. Mechanic says the callipers are seized, but the guy who sold it to me says he doubts it as you would not be able to push the car if the brakes were seized.

Is there anything I can do to try to loosen them up? Or should I just get new brake rebuild kits and get the calipers redone anyway?

Mar4ix

I am not specialist in Porsch, i dont think so there is much difference from regular cars.

wheels , which doesnt rotate properly, need to take off, remove bake pads, and see if any difference.

if no difference, than could be - central bolt is too tight bolted or bearings are seize.
if them start rotate freely, than need have a look on calliper.

you didnt said which wheels goes freely, front or rears... if hard to turn rears, i presume than could be also problem with differential ...

Wheelnut

I presume the car is still driving, if so and the brakes are binding they should become hot after a drive. I suggest driving the car at least three miles then check to see if any of the discs have become hot. Don't put your fingers through the spokes to feel them, you may get burned. Just hold the palm of your hand near the spokes and you should feel the heat if they are hot. Any disc that is hot is probably binding. Try it and let us know how you get on, I may be able to give some further advice.

Nissan doctor

Zascar wrote: »

I just bought and old Porsche which had been sitting idle for a while - a lot of work has been done on it but it has not been driven much. When I drive it I thought the brakes were rubbish - but I did not expect much with a 35 year old car. Thing is I was on a hill at one stage and went to roll backwards but it did not move. I got it up on a ramp and two of the wheels move freely, whereas the other two need a really good shove to get them to rotate. Mechanic says the callipers are seized, but the guy who sold it to me says he doubts it as you would not be able to push the car if the brakes were seized.

Is there anything I can do to try to loosen them up? Or should I just get new brake rebuild kits and get the calipers redone anyway?

What needs to be done depends on how they are seized. If the caliper sliders are seized then they can normally be stripped down, cleaned, lubricated and away you go. If its the pistons that are seized in the calipers then they will either need to be rebuilt or replaced for a long term repair.
On such an old car its also possible that the calipers themselves a corroded, causing the pads to jam in place.

IMO they need to be looked at properly to see exactly what wrong.

MercMad

Caliper rebuild kits are getting harder to find AND the cost of recon calipers is coming down. Personally having done plenty in the last 12 months i wouldn't bother with a kit, just get a recon set of calipers.