How to prevent brake seize after car sits unused Topic is solved

Post by **FireFox31** » 15 Jun 2018, 11:27

When I don't drive my 2000 V70 for a month, the brakes will seize closed the next time I do a hard stop. This has happened to front and rear brakes many times. How can I prevent them from seizing when I let the car sit?

Post by **ZionXIX** » 15 Jun 2018, 11:57

I let my car sit for 18 months and then again for a year and have never had a seized brake caliper. What region are you in?

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Jun 2018, 11:59

It sounds like your calipers are in bad shape.

Sure a month will let the discs rust if you're in the rusty climate zone but it shouldn't do much more.

Post by **FireFox31** » 15 Jun 2018, 12:17

What part of the caliper would cause them to seize so easily? Currently, one of my front calipers is seized a little bit closed.

I will be doing this overhaul procedure on all of my calipers. This is such a great car, but the brakes have been a problem for years.

Post by **abscate** » 15 Jun 2018, 14:26

If you haven't been replacing your brake fluid every two years, your internal caliper pistons are probably rusting to the cylinders inside your calipers.

You can pull them off and replace them or try rebuilding them if they arent too corroded.

removing your calipers and greasing the slides is the other thing to try, as noted above.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 15 Jun 2018, 14:33

I'm guessing the pins are the main issue (new rubber seals provably needed along with grease) but the pistons and their seals can be an issue too.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 15 Jun 2018, 15:24

I think OP is referring to the brakes having a tendency to lock up after the rotors have developed a surface rust after not being driven for an extended period. I've noticed this with certain combinations of rotor/pads over the years (which specific ones I don't recall). Normally you expect the brakes to feel a little soft until the rust gets cleaned off, but with some it feels soft initially then try to lock up as you close to a stop. The rear on my S60 when I first bought it was acting like this anytime they got splashed at the car wash. I changed the pads back there (to a hybrid-ceramic type) and haven't noticed the issue ever since.

Post by **Clemens** » 17 Jun 2018, 02:27

Interesting approach. I will try new pads and pins and watch what happens (i've had the same prpblem as the OP on my T5M which I mainly use in winter)

Post by **oragex** » 17 Jun 2018, 07:31

Does the OP see 'marks' in the shape of the brake pads on the disc? I had this happening when using cheap quality pads, they were sticking to the disc after 1-2 days of not driving the car, even more so after some rain.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 17 Jun 2018, 10:08

Seems I didn't throw those 'original' pads that had issues out as they were ~90%. Spotted them looking for a tool yesterday. I can't seem to identify the brand/markings, google didn't help. Two lines of digits on the back anti squeal plate/lower left DB9306FE and the second line beginning 3011--(the rest is illegible).
Second set of pads I put on were (I think) Wagner mid range semi metallics.
Recently I came across a S60 at a pick and pull where the PO had put new pads/rotors all around then totaled the vehicle within a very short time. They used NAPA ADO pads, which is the new tech hybrid organic-ceramic stuff which supposedly pulls the 'best of both worlds' from various pad compounds (low dust, resists fade/reduced stopping distances, long life). I pulled everything from all 4 corners including the rotors, also brand new, which would have also come from Napa. As they they spent $ on premium pads it's a safe bet the rotors weren't the 'cheap ones' either, they look like/probably are reboxed Brembos from the best I can tell. Brakes feel quite good with that technically used setup.

Neither the interim or the current rotors/pads acted this way, just the original rotors with those unknown P/N pads mentioned (edit-see below, from Autozone). The front pads that came with the car when I bought it, I took off when I pulled the parts from the salvage vehicle were autozone duralast gold ceramic, they were fine too aside from having noticeable brake fade compared to the current setup.

Edit: the misbehaving rear pads were from AZ too. The numbers printed on the back of the pads are different from the part number on the box/website - so google doesn't find it. But pictures on AZ site show it.