280SL dragging front brake

[jay_rm]

Greetings - long time lurker here.  Forgot my sign-in and had to re-register 

I have a dragging front off-side caliper.  It's bad enough that it actually pulls the steering slightly.  I've done some searching on this forum that points toward a collapsed flex line and that's also a common problem on the older Unimogs.  Those flex lines are probably a minimum of 25 years old, if not the original OEM units 

Would the collective forum wisdom agree that changing out the flex lines be the first step in troubleshooting this condition ?

Jay
Colorado, USA

[kampala]

Jay,

Typically very old flex lines do cause problems.  But as you might have read, it could also be your calipers.  Of course you would want to put new flex lines but if you want to confirm its only the line, you can.     When you know the caliper is binding, you would try and turn the rotor by hand to make sure it's binding.  Then release brake fluid from that caliper via the bleed nipple. Once some pressure is out the rotor should not bind if the problem is only the flex line.  If it still binds, the problem is more than just the flex line.

[ja17]

I want your Unimog! 

[Cees Klumper]

Change both lines and see if that remedies the situation. Be prepared to have to also replace the calipers. Do the rear brakes at the same time, unless you have or see evidence they've been done not too long ago. Safety first!

[jay_rm]

Thanks all - yes, I've ordered new ATE lines from AutohausAZ for the front.  We'll see how that goes first.
I've had to rebuild a rear caliper in the past and have a couple of "cores" available.  Hopefully it will be the flex line.

EVERYBODY wants the Mog 

[Benz Dr.]

So that's what's wrong with my workers!!! They have dragging front calipers...........