At my cars last MOT in November 2014 one of the advisories were an imbalance of the front brake sliders. Is this a cheap and easy fix? As I understand it they are pins which connect the pads to the calliper?

Would this imbalance explain the monumental levels of brake dust on the drivers side wheel compared to the sort of clean passenger side because its causing the pad to rub on the disc? I haven't noticed any pulling to the right, but it was too wet for me to want to try heavy braking today to test it (usually drive like a nun).

Just wondering whether to sort it before the MOT next month. I will take it back to the council MOT centre again as they seem to only pick up genuine problems rather than anything they can pick up to get money out of me...

I've never seen it described like that before and I've no idea what they mean by 'brake sliders'. The pads locate in a carrier bolted to the hub and the pins pass through the caliper and allow it to float and centralise on the pads when the brake is applied.

In my experience it's most unusual for the caliper to get stuck on the pins. The pads can get stuck in the carrier but it's more likely that your problem is a sticking piston in the caliper. This results from a build-up of corrosion on the bore outboard of the piston seal. I had this problem and thought I'd fixed it by cleaning the corrosion off but it returned a few months later while I was on holiday and I had to have the caliper replaced.

I didn't notice any pulling when the piston had seized but my mpg suddenly dropped like a stone.

The rubber grommets of the brake calipers which slide onto the pins can wear out. This can result in excessive play which can cause the brake pads to wear unevenly. The excessive play can also result in water/dirt/corrosion between the grommets and the pins which can cause the brake caliper assembly to seize onto the guiding pins. This can result in rubbing brake pads which causes a lot more dirt. Usually a wheel with the rubbing brake pads will also get a lot warmer than the other wheels during a longer ride.

As said the caliper guide pins are probably corroded or seized by the sounds of it. The caliper slides on the guide pins when the piston pushes and released. Common issue on all calipers over time. Often a cause of binding brakes which leads to premature pad wear and lower MPG.

Apply a generous amount of bearing grease to the calliper pins.

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I haven't noticed any drop in MPG, unless it happened before I bought the car, but if that was the case it would have been managing in excess of 40 mpg on a combined cycle. At most I think I will get about 15-20 miles less out of this tank, which I was just putting down to use of the heater and not being particularly careful with my right foot.

Is repairing/replacing either the pins/pads or calliper an easy job? Not sure I fancy bleeding brakes myself so I might leave it and cross my fingers at the MOT.

Other than that there are planty of 2nd hand or rebuilt calipers on ebay :-)

Jamie