Brake hose

[Ted Wilusz]

Have another project. Elderly neighbor asked if I could help her fix her car. The left front wheel gets hot. Told her more than likely brake caliper. The symptom is the wheel gets hot but if you are on hill the brake seems to be stuck. As you sit there the car will start to roll until you hit brake again. I used c clamp to push piston back. I didn’t seem like it took much pressure to push it back in. So now I think it is the brake hose. Is there a way to check the brake hose? She is on fixed income so I don’t want to guess and be wrong and cost her more money. I know most people would change both at same time. I am not charging her nothing just whatever parts cost. Let me know.
Thanks

Topic

[Richard Kirshy]

A collapsing brake hose may well jam up the caliper.
How to test for it:
Might try jacking up the front end, give the wheel in question a spin to make sure it is free wheeling.
Start the car and apply the brakes a few times, then quickly try spinning the tire in question again.
If it sticks could well be a bad line.

But you first should see when or if the brake fluid has ever been changed.
Old brake fluid can cause rust inside the brake system and cause issues.

[Ted Wilusz]

Thanks for the info. Here is what I did. Jacked up car. Hit brake pedal and then tried to spin the wheel. Would not spin right away. Sit for about 30-45 seconds and it spins again. Tried to push caliper piston back in caliper and if was hard to do. I then loosed the line from caliper and it was still hard to push piston back. I put new caliper on and it spins as soon as you let off brake. Took for test drive and the wheel is not getting hot like it was. Told her we will keep an eye on it for a few days and see. Still might need brake hose. I hope I did it right for her and don’t need hose.

[Richard Kirshy]

I believe you made the right call.

[Author]

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