Stuck Brakes: Causes and Solutions

Hi,

Yesterday, I wanted to take my winter car (a Golf 2 GT) out for a short drive.
As I was about to drive away, I realized that the brakes were stuck.

I tried to start it with a little force, but without success.
It's like the parking brake is always fully engaged.

What can I do to get the brakes unstuck?

Regards,
DJ.

Hmm, this defect is what caused my beloved Golf2 GTs to be scrapped because the repair was too expensive...

You have disc brakes on the rear, and the wheel cylinder pistons tend to rust easily. This can cause the brake to seize. I've always used the parking brake, but it still happens sometimes. Never engage the parking brake if you're going to leave the car parked for a long time!

Nowadays, there are even replacement brake cylinders available from Volkswagen that are reasonably priced.

Before you ruin the clutch, remove the rear wheels and try to gently push the brake caliper away from its bracket. Ideally, completely disassemble the brake system (if you're comfortable doing so!), lubricate the guides with copper grease, and disassemble and clean the wheel cylinder.

Hi,

What the heck! / What a load of crap! / This is such BS!
I'm not very knowledgeable about brakes.
I'll try to clean them.

Thank you.

Regards,
DJ.

Hello DJ,

The problem is caused by contact corrosion between the rotor and the brake pad. This can happen even if the parking brake isn't engaged (we had this issue with our Audi once, which was out of service for a year; it happens constantly with drum brakes). Therefore, it's generally recommended to move the car back and forth slightly every 1-3 weeks.

Try heating the brake disc with a Bunsen burner. You can heat the disc until it glows, but be careful not to overheat the brake hose or the rubber seal on the brake cylinder. While doing this, apply leverage to the lug bolts or similar and try to turn them, or gently tap the brake pads. It should work. Good luck.

Okay, I'll try my best!

Best regards,
DJ.