Oh bother - The back brakes may be naff what what...

[Nicodemus]

Being off work having stuffed my back on Thursday my old girl's been parked up out t' front unused. Handbrake gently on and in first gear.

Needed to move her this afternoon. Shuffled out as you do, accompanied by much wincing and whining despite maximum painkillers and anti-inflams. Cursed myself into drivers seat, neutral, depress clutch and start, first gear, handbrake off, clutch out - front of car rose and it didn't go anywhere. 'Oh bother,' thought I. 'Jolly old brakes must be stuck on.'

Rocked car gently using first and reverse, don't dare try and push it remember. BANG! Brakes release and off I go, now accompanied by a rythmic grating noise from the rear whenever I apply the brakes.

Gosh darn. Looks like it's orf to one of those mender chappies next week.

Now - let's refresh my memory of how well wine goes on top of tramadol.

Answer - phgjt burble flub hytgsdfren bigglerap poo limbogoftoj, brep?

PS - brakes shouldn't have seized over a couple of days, there's more to this than meets the eye and wallet.

[DaiRees]

Bad news on the back dude, hope it gets better soon.

Was it wet when you parked it? Whenever I park mine up wet (even overnight) and use the handbrake it binds, and then it's well noisy when next used, mind you it usually clearly after a couple of miles / stops

I don't use the handbrake anymore when parked for any length of time, I just park it in gear.

[steve_earwig]

Sorry about the back mate, I had a load of grief with mine a while ago and had all sorts of therapy (electric shocks , ultrasound and a load of excercises), I've even got my own Swiss ball, sitting just there in the corner unloved Remember, if symptoms persist consult your doctor. Yeah, he'll probably say "you and me both mate" but it could be something serious - I have a long list of stuff, most of which I can't even pronounce, but I gather it's been caught early enough to do something about it.

Umm, does your car have disks or drums on the back? That sounds like drums, especially the way it makes a racket when you put the brakes on.

[Nicodemus]

Sorry about the back mate, I had a load of grief with mine a while ago and had all sorts of therapy (electric shocks , ultrasound and a load of excercises), I've even got my own Swiss ball, sitting just there in the corner unloved Remember, if symptoms persist consult your doctor. Yeah, he'll probably say "you and me both mate" but it could be something serious - I have a long list of stuff, most of which I can't even pronounce, but I gather it's been caught early enough to do something about it.

Aye. Always had minor probs then slipped a disc in 76 which complicated things a tad, my spinal xray is s shaped right to left and back to front. Tried everything from acupuncture to osteopath and finally (just 2 or 3 years ago) gp referred me to a physio who specialised in back prob's. Various excercises help reduce incidence of prob's as long as I do the damn things Still occasionally pull a muscle or summat then get spasms, referred pain, sciatica etc etc Can usually feel it getting tight for a week or so beforehand. Then it's pile on the opiates, anti inflams and diazepam, above all keep moving if possible (which sometimes it's not).

Umm, does your car have disks or drums on the back? That sounds like drums, especially the way it makes a racket when you put the brakes on.

Yes D9 with rear discs and handbrake drums in centre of hub. Pound to a pinch of shite it's the hbrake shoes as you thought.

Bad news on the back dude, hope it gets better soon.

Was it wet when you parked it? Whenever I park mine up wet (even overnight) and use the handbrake it binds, and then it's well noisy when next used, mind you it usually clearly after a couple of miles / stops

Cheers Dai. Nah - it's not like your usual rusty sticky discs. We'll see next week. Need to get it in, fixed and back on the road. Was just nattering with our desk op and it sounds like a v busy weekend, I'm pleased for the other guys but

[mjb]

Ooh Tramadol... That stuff didn't do too much for me other than put me to sleep for 14+ hours, then i'd wake up, have a pee and go back to sleep for another 6+... Nasty stuff. I tend to hammer the cocodamol and diclofenac sodium instead

[Welly]

*holds up belated hand to having back probs too*

The bottom of my spine is rock solid for the first few discs until L5 where it slipped and stabbed my spinal column/nerves with a blob of hard disc jelly gobbo etc. that was 11 years ago but still get 4 or 5 "episodes" a year of lower back pain/sciatica. Diclofenac for me too (gotta love them little Orange Triangles).

Actually the 406 is 'teh' only car that doesn't insult my back - hence long ownership

Hope it clears up sharpesh Taxi

Every time I wash my car the rear brakes are stuck on! I just drive off - and yes they grate for a few hundred yards I'm just waiting for the day I rip the blinking linings of the shoes

[Nicodemus]

Diclofenac for me too (gotta love them little Orange Triangles).

Got my regular review appt coming up with gp this month. I'll see if he'll let me have some diclo this time around since I'm not on so many other damn pills these days. Wouldn't let me have 'em before (3 or 4 years ago).

I'm shuffling around reasonably, without too much gritting of teeth and wincing

So onto the brakes. Turned out handbrake shoes had jammed up and were only partially releasing. Had em all stripped down cleaned etc reassembled, adjusted and new pads on rear for £57. Worth it to get car back on road.

Next jobs; front pads, oil and filter change (I get that done about every 4 thou). Probably replace bonnet (bubbly rust on front edge, rust inside front edge fold coming through) over next month or two.