I've been extremely busy recently family-wise, with parents in their 90s and Christmas and New Year to arrange. So the Jaguar got little attention over the December. Until my wife said she was hearing a funny noise when we went for a short drive. Now my hearing is not what it was, so I asked her to tell me when she heard it, and fortuitously, as we stopped, she said "there it is", so I then heard it, a low groaning noise from the rear.

Now being one who believes a noise on a car never goes away on its own, I resolved to have a look soon, but again the Christmas and New Year interval prevented progress, what with ferrying my parents around, so it wasn't until 2014 was with us, and the rain relented just a little, that I was able to have a look-see.

Oh what a sight ! The offside rear disc was heavily scored, and the pad was definitely on the metal backing. So I managed to get my local Jaguar independent to look at the car Tuesday. Bad News !! Offside disc shot, and outer pad on the metal. Caliper was found to be seized on one of the slider pins, so it was new discs and pads time. Quite a hit walletwise, but bearable.

Drove off to a carwash, visited parents, then went to local supermarket. As I passed the offside I just thought I'd check the wheel, and it was quite warm. Stupidly touched the disc and Ouch ! So in the morning rang the shop, then took the car back and it then turned out the caliper wasn't just seized on the pins, but the handbrake mechanism was not returning all the way. It had seemed OK, but clearly wasn't returning fully. So it was new caliper time, and another Ouch !!

Now things are OK, but I just hope the other side keeps on going for a bit.

I must confess that if I had had more time, I would have investigated cheaper rebuilt, (service exchange), calipers and got my local mechanic, Louis to fit it, but at the moment I need the car every day, so had to get it fixed quickly.

This incident has dented the 2014 maintenance/repair budget quite a bit.

 

Maybe you just got it out of the way early and the rest of 2014 is smooth sailing!

 

that is a bummer Fraser! Too bad whoever did the brakes last didn't grease the bolts and slides better - or if it was the original, I guess the English Weather just got to it

I know the feeling, if you 'need it now' you go to the dealer and pay through the nose, but they are quick.

 

Actually it was an excellent independent shop. If the job had been done at a main agent it would have been a lot more ! Boss was sorry I had had to come in again, but mechanic had found seized caliper so thought that was the only problem, the symptoms fitted exactly, but it wasn't as it turned out. Anyways, I have learned my lesson, so will regularly check wheels for heat after a run. Warm all round OK, one only warm/hot - something's wrong !

English weather is pretty bad, what with the rains and all. Currently the Thames is overflowed and a lot of millionaires houses are inundated. Its schadenfreude time here ! However no snow like you have all had in the US.

 

oh good, I'm all for indy shops (having owned my own for 10+ years.

Yes, the snow and temps have been bad this year (terrifying the first time you drive in it, but I find it fun now). Having spent some many weeks in England over the years, the rain is always a factor.