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My 2013 4/4 developed a squeaky rear near side brake last week. The brakes worked fine so I put it down to dust and assumed it would sort itself out. At the weekend it was still there and in addition it had developed a squeal as I pulled away. Today both squeak and squeal were still present so after a short run I checked the rear near side wheel and it was very hot, too hot to touch. The brake drum was very hot and there is quite a lot of brake dust on the wheel not present on the other three.I think it is a seized brake piston but would really appreciate any other thoughts which may be helpful.

Thanks in advance,
Andy

It certainly sounds like a seized brake cylinder Andy. All the symptoms are present. Worth pulling off the brake drum and having a good look. You might if you are lucky get away with a good soak in brake cleaner spray.

I'd also check that the handbrake cable is free from the adjuster bracket to the backplate as well. The cable outer can split at the bend to the backplate and the wire inner spiral corrodes and eventually snaps, wearing the inner cable.

Good luck!

...or the pad has (partially) separated from the pad??

As Jay points out check the handbrake mechanism, this kind of condition is often found to be stiff or part seized handbrake linkage and or pivots. Where cylinders can often be eased by using a large flat screwdriver on either shoe and pushing the shoes back and pistons in alternately to shuttle the wheel cylinder pistons back and forth.

The heat is probably from binding brakes either from a sticky caliper or pads.
Maybe debris picked up and the disc rubbing it?
I had similar on a car a few years ago. A clean up failed as an easy first fix. It was a seizing caliper in the end.
Symptoms were exactly as you described.
I tried repeated brake/ pushing pistons back but to no avail.
Replaced the caliper in the end...
The problem was a damaged rubber seal allowed water to get onto the piston causing slight corrosion.

N/S rear? Caliper?......it's a drum brake with shoes not a disc with pads, car is a Trad not an Aero based.

My 1990 4/4 had just this year a major overhaul of the rear drums: more than 30% difference is a dutch MOT issue, so after installing a servo, making new copper hoses, new 4 caliper pisons in front last year, now I have also new brake cylinders and brake pads at the rear. For a 1990 Morgan, it's not that odd! But for a 2013 Morgan? Isn't that a little too soon??!!

I would suspect the handbrake cable first on a two year old.

OOOPS!
Just spotted the rear word!
My speed reading is deteriorating!

if it turns out to be a seized cylinder its worth checking the other side and changing the brake fluid. A Lesson I learnt from recent previous experience.