So I had to go to get some documents and parked the car on a hill. I decided to use the handbrake-which I have used before-...I come back into the car and as I am driving I notice smoke coming out of the left rear tire. I slow down and eventually my pedal goes to the floor (fluid probably boiled). Lucky for me my Jaguar mechanic was only 6 blocks from the place where I had to get my papers from. Obviously a seized caliper. I was going to try what Thermo recommended to see if my rear brakes where "grabbing" causing the car to sometimes feel heavy out of stops. I guess I know the answer now

 

Spike, it sounds like your e-brake caliper lever stuck and that is what you are experiencing. A quick fix is to simply remove the wheel in question and then using a large screw driver or something of the like, pry the arm forward to release the e-brake. From there, the caliper should be loose enough to allow normal driving. From there, if you want, you can rebuild the caliper to save yourself some money as the rebuild will only cost you about $30 to do the first caliper ($12 for the rebuild kit, $18 for the special pentasocket). Takes about an hour to rebuild if you take your time.

If you have more questions, just ask. I will tell you everything that you need to know.

 

Chris Thanks a lot.

Do you think this will cure my problem with the car feeling heavy?

I am assuming that this is why the car feels so heavy and why my fuel consumption is so terrible

Thanks

 

Spike, it is very possible. If it was as bad as you were saying, it would not surprise me. Take a look at both sides too. If one is bad, the other side is possibly not to far behind and if you are into it, might as well make it right all the way around.

 

Update: Both rear calipers where indeed "grabbing" both where replaced with new units. Car feels much lighter now, perhaps to soon to tel but transmission seems to shift easier as well.

 

Congratulations! I have been following this thread and it sounded like you were really getting frustrated and that a number of people more or less told you it was your imagination. Glad to hear your car is back to performing the way it should.

 

Never doubt the almighty "THERMO"......Congrats man. now you can enjoy the x

 

Dr, it is not "Almighty" anything, it is "The Most Honorable". That comes from my days of being in the navy. I am sure those that have done what I have done will recognize the saying. It is that time of the year.

 

Well , My apologies. The Most Honorable it is then... My bad.

Sometimes the dr is wrong.LOL

 

Is that why they call what you do a "practice"? Just saying. If you don't get it right the first time, try and try again? LMAO.

 

Update - the car is still feeling ocassionally heavy and sometimes (specially on stop and go) seems to require too much effort to get up to speed. Problem is not solved. Maybe a new transmission is in my future. Who knows :-(

 

Or maybe it's time for new flexible brake lines. Sometimes they swell internally and become one way valves. Then the brakes stick.

When you replaced the calipers, all was well for a time because the system had been open for a bit. Now it's gone back to its old ways. So, it is related. Maybe the guide pins if they are used on that model are sticking, maybe a full fluid flush is in order as well.