Rear brakes seizing

Gentlemen, and ladies of course, I was out in my 2002 996 C4 last weekend driving normally minding my own business, when suddenly coming out of a village i tried to accelerate but found i couldn't, the car just got slower, 100 meters later, i depressed the clutch and the car stopped instantly of its own accord in a cloud of blue smoke. Luckily i was able to pull forward gently into a gap and off the road. Call the AA, car taken to OPC Silverstone on the flat bed. Investigation there showed only one piston in each Caliper working and not well, the other 3 on each side were stuck, so it didn't take much for at some point those two would fail and not release the pads after braking. Take care folks get your pistons in Calipers checked when servicing. My car does not stand sitting for weeks on end, it is used weekly on a regular basis and only the week before had done a 350 mile trip. 65K on the clock, and not forgetting that rear brakes activate less frequently in a heavy manner. The car also had new Discs and pads 6 months ago, but who checks the pistons in the Calipers at that point?, no one i bet. Result, needs new Calipers, ouch! but it is what it is, so just some advice. Keep an eye on your Calipers not just the pads.

I remember reading recently that brakes need to be exercised 'hard' every now and then. I presume this is to make sure the pistons are exercised. In normal driving we rarely brake hard.

Indeed and also to exercise the discs to clean off any residue build up! I recently had new brakes all-round on the C4 and a couple of pots had seized due to rust. They get damp and hold water, again hard braking in dry conditions keeps them dry! I know that's not easy in the UK!!