Dragging brakes – causes, symptoms and repair

In short: a brake drags when the pad keeps pressing the disc even though the pedal is released. The most common cause in Finland is a rusty or seized caliper or guide pin. Fix it soon, as it wears the pads and discs and can overheat the brake.

Symptoms of a dragging brake

• One wheel is clearly hotter than the others after a drive
• Much more brake dust on one wheel
• The car pulls or feels as if it is braking by itself
• A burning smell from the brakes
• Fuel consumption has gone up
• The car rolls poorly in neutral

The most common causes

• Seized caliper piston – rust and old brake fluid stop the piston from retracting.
• Dry or rusty guide pins – the caliper cannot slide, so the pad rubs on the disc.
• Parking brake – a mechanical cable sticks, or an electronic parking brake motor does not release fully.
• Internally collapsed brake hose – an old hose can let pressure in but not back out.
• Rusty pad abutments – the pad cannot move freely in the caliper bracket.

Rear brakes drag more often because they are used less and rust. Calipers also seize easily on cars that have stood for a long time. If your brakes also squeal, read: squeaking brakes.

Repair at IVERA

We first find out whether the fault is in the caliper, guide pins, parking brake or hose. Often cleaning and greasing the caliper and pins is enough; a seized caliper is replaced. We also check the pads and discs and change the brake fluid if needed. Price by registration number before any work. See brake pad and disc replacement.

Read also

• Squeaking brakes – causes
• Brake fluid change interval