C5 Tight Brakes
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, GA
C5 Tight Brakes
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Default C5 Tight BrakesYesterday when I got home from a drive in our 03 C5 I sensed a "brake burning smell" coming from the car. I pulled the right front wheel to investigate and I could barely turn the spindle by hand. When I lifted the other front wheel it felt the same. I removed the caliper from the right front wheel and was able to retard the pistons. I also lifted the rear and those wheels were dragging, but not to the extent of the front ones.
All of the brake system components are original. I must say I have not been good at performing the recommended brake fluid changes over the years. The car has about 100,000 miles.
I know we have the booster, master cylinder, anti lock brake system and the calipers in the system. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Larry P
Default C5 Tight BrakesYesterday when I got home from a drive in our 03 C5 I sensed a "brake burning smell" coming from the car. I pulled the right front wheel to investigate and I could barely turn the spindle by hand. When I lifted the other front wheel it felt the same. I removed the caliper from the right front wheel and was able to retard the pistons. I also lifted the rear and those wheels were dragging, but not to the extent of the front ones.
All of the brake system components are original. I must say I have not been good at performing the recommended brake fluid changes over the years. The car has about 100,000 miles.
I know we have the booster, master cylinder, anti lock brake system and the calipers in the system. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Larry P
Last edited by runnjump; May 30, 2026 at 08:28 PM. Reason: Added Information
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 137
Likes: 88
Time for a complete brake job including pads, clips, pins, and flush. When I think of brakes not retracting my mind first goes to corroded clips and corroded or deformed pins. Just get it done, as you said you’ve neglected them for years… time to get on it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 66
From: Virginia
Preview
Default C5 Tight BrakesYesterday when I got home from a drive in our 03 C5 I sensed a "brake burning smell" coming from the car. I pulled the right front wheel to investigate and I could barely turn the spindle by hand. When I lifted the other front wheel it felt the same. I removed the caliper from the right front wheel and was able to retard the pistons. I also lifted the rear and those wheels were dragging, but not to the extent of the front ones.
All of the brake system components are original. I must say I have not been good at performing the recommended brake fluid changes over the years. The car has about 100,000 miles.
I know we have the booster, master cylinder, anti lock brake system and the calipers in the system. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Larry P
Default C5 Tight BrakesYesterday when I got home from a drive in our 03 C5 I sensed a "brake burning smell" coming from the car. I pulled the right front wheel to investigate and I could barely turn the spindle by hand. When I lifted the other front wheel it felt the same. I removed the caliper from the right front wheel and was able to retard the pistons. I also lifted the rear and those wheels were dragging, but not to the extent of the front ones.
All of the brake system components are original. I must say I have not been good at performing the recommended brake fluid changes over the years. The car has about 100,000 miles.
I know we have the booster, master cylinder, anti lock brake system and the calipers in the system. Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Larry P
Last edited by eric22; May 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,576
Likes: 1,107
From: Ex DPRK, now just N of Medford, OR
Several possible culprits.
Might be mechanical: corroded/crusty caliper slides, sticky caliper piston, etc.
Or might be hydraulic: anything rubber in the system might be swollen, and not allow fluid to return to the master.
Something might also be keeping the master cyl from releasing fully, but that's a long shot.
If the problem is repeatable, jack the car while the brakes are dragging, and crack a bleeder. If that wheel frees up, it's a hydraulic issue. If not, it's mechanical.
If both wheels on the axle are now free, suspect the master... If it just frees up one wheel at a time, suspect the brake hose, or maybe the ABS block. It's a possibility, although I've never seen it.
Good luck!
Might be mechanical: corroded/crusty caliper slides, sticky caliper piston, etc.
Or might be hydraulic: anything rubber in the system might be swollen, and not allow fluid to return to the master.
Something might also be keeping the master cyl from releasing fully, but that's a long shot.
If the problem is repeatable, jack the car while the brakes are dragging, and crack a bleeder. If that wheel frees up, it's a hydraulic issue. If not, it's mechanical.
If both wheels on the axle are now free, suspect the master... If it just frees up one wheel at a time, suspect the brake hose, or maybe the ABS block. It's a possibility, although I've never seen it.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 20
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, GA
Thanks for the quick replys. Since I've neglected the system for many years I do plan to replace all the brake hardware (front and rear), including the rubber brake lines and flush the system.
I did find why the right front brake seemed extremely tight - it was the wheel bearing in the hub. It was very tight, very rough, probably close to shelling out. I plan on replacing both front hubs. I'll see what the back hubs look like when I get back there.
Thanks again for your comments, assistance.
Larry P
I did find why the right front brake seemed extremely tight - it was the wheel bearing in the hub. It was very tight, very rough, probably close to shelling out. I plan on replacing both front hubs. I'll see what the back hubs look like when I get back there.
Thanks again for your comments, assistance.
Larry P
