Amphib Brake Problem
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:56 pm
Just wondering if anyone has run into this problem and how they fixed it. I
had been noticing that my left amphib brake calipers have been sticking a
bit. It was most noticeable when I was pulling the plane into the hangar. I
know I am getting older and weaker, but found that I sometimes needed to
push the plane from the front, instead of pulling it in backwards into my
hangar like I always used to, even with full fuel. It was a kind of gradual
thing over time, and I could hear the calipers dragging on the rotor, too as
I pulled it in, but finally reached the point where only pushing worked.
Anyway, the problem was definitely getting worse, so I finally took the time
tonight to jack up my wheel and see what gives. What I found is that the
caliper assembly was frozen tight. The other wheel was loose and could
easily be wiggled by my fingers, but not this one. I then pried it a bit
with a screw driver and then it loosened up, and then I could spin the wheel
by hand, no problem. I then applied brake pedal pressure in the cabin, and
again it froze up, and needed to be pried loose with the screwdriver. I
applied brake on the other side, too, and it wouldn't freeze. So there is
definitely something wrong with my left brakes.
I haven't taken anything apart yet, and thought I would ask here if anyone
has any ideas as to the problem. I suspect it might be the puck and O ring
somehow jamming. This is the same side that I had a leak a few years back,
and had to change the O ring on the puck. Or is it just that my pads are so
far worn that the puck is coming out too far or something like that.
Walter
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had been noticing that my left amphib brake calipers have been sticking a
bit. It was most noticeable when I was pulling the plane into the hangar. I
know I am getting older and weaker, but found that I sometimes needed to
push the plane from the front, instead of pulling it in backwards into my
hangar like I always used to, even with full fuel. It was a kind of gradual
thing over time, and I could hear the calipers dragging on the rotor, too as
I pulled it in, but finally reached the point where only pushing worked.
Anyway, the problem was definitely getting worse, so I finally took the time
tonight to jack up my wheel and see what gives. What I found is that the
caliper assembly was frozen tight. The other wheel was loose and could
easily be wiggled by my fingers, but not this one. I then pried it a bit
with a screw driver and then it loosened up, and then I could spin the wheel
by hand, no problem. I then applied brake pedal pressure in the cabin, and
again it froze up, and needed to be pried loose with the screwdriver. I
applied brake on the other side, too, and it wouldn't freeze. So there is
definitely something wrong with my left brakes.
I haven't taken anything apart yet, and thought I would ask here if anyone
has any ideas as to the problem. I suspect it might be the puck and O ring
somehow jamming. This is the same side that I had a leak a few years back,
and had to change the O ring on the puck. Or is it just that my pads are so
far worn that the puck is coming out too far or something like that.
Walter
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