Hi all im having problems with my 1996 1.6 escort, My drivers side front break siezed up so i changed the calliper blead my brakes, it worked fine for a couple of days, but now it seems to stick on after heavy breaking any body got any ideas what is wrong.
thanks ben

 

change the discs

 

Are the sliders seized?

And are the pads seized into the carriers?

 

ye try cleaning up the sliders and the carrier and put copper slip on the back and sides of the pads

 

Try cracking off the bleed nipple, if there is pressure there it will come out with a force, then you have a sticky or duff m/cylinder!!
tabetha

 

quite a few mark 5&6 escorts had problems with the flexy brake hoses being blocked!!

 

i stripped the caliper put new seals in cleaned and greased the sliders and blead the brakes but i checked if there was air in the other side and there seemed to be a lot more pressure does this suggest master cylinder

 

If theres pressure something isn't returning home.

I'd say it was more likely to be the piston/caliper than the master cylinder

 

When the pedal returns fuly it uncovers the holes in the m/cylinder, which then allows it to draw fluid in to it's bore and be pushed by piston action upon pressing pedal again.
Even if it had a totally jammed caliper piston it could therefore not create pressure once pedal released.
It could well be that the piston in the claiper is sticking and causing a drag but this would not create pressure in the caliper when pedal released, as hole uncovers and any pressure is released back into m/cylinder reservoir.
tabetha

 

i would take the calipers apart, attack them with a wire brush, regease em, put them back together with new pads, discs and pipes as there maybe a hole in the brake pipes or a slight split.

 

there is no pressure at the bleed nipple wether the break is pressed or not it just dribbles out i have cleaned and greased everything up it as if the break line is blocked, cheers ben

 

There must be pressure at the bleed nipple when brake is pressed !!
If not bleed MASTER CYLINDER FIRST, then blow out the lines in case some crap is in there, once disconnected from calipers.
It is basic mechanics, fluid is NOT COMPRESSABLE, so movement at master will create movement further down the line.
It is entirely feasable that the pistons are jammed in the calipers as this does happen (to fords in particular), lok for movement whiule someone else presses the pedal, or trek over to me and I'll fix it!!
tabetha

 

call me dumb but how do u bleed the m/cylinder

 

Easy two person job, just press brake pedal DOWN and HOLD.
Next someone needs to seal hole where pipe goes with finger/thumb WHILST you slowly release the pedal, this will create a VACUUM in the port of the m/cyl and so draw in the brake fluid with vacuum action , it will be immediately obvious when it has worked as it wil squirt with force everywhere.
PLease do not call your self DUMB, the dumb ones are those that are unwilling to learn!!
I learn a lot from here myself as well.
tabetha

 

thanks for all your help so far guys gonna have another go at sortin the brakes out in a couple of days got the flu at the mo