Dragging rear brake

[Am_Dew]

2005 XLT V6 4.0L with 34000 miles

This past weekend after stopping at a stop light and the creeping very slowly forward with traffic, each time I would creep forward, I heard a fairly loud rubbing sound coming from the rear passenger side as well as a definite "dragging" feeling. Once I sped up the rubbing sound and dragging feeling went away and I proceeded to drive the couple miles back home. I then took a look at the rear passenger side wheel and saw white smoke coming from the calipers and also saw that about 1/3 of the rotor was blackened and scored. Previously, I had sometimes noticed the smell of brakes when I would get out of the vehicle but never paid close attention to it. My brakes feel normal and the vehicle does not pull to one side or another when braking or driving, but obviously there is a problem.

I bought this Explorer from a local Ford dealer about a month ago. A local automotive shop suggested I call them and talk to them about this...his thinking was that the problem could very well be a safety issue and they should stand behind it, and/or the 36K mile factory warranty would cover it. What do you guys think about this? Is there any chance they will cover me on this or will they just say "sorry, it was sold "as is"?

Thanks!

 

[davidmmm69]

2005 XLT V6 4.0L with 34000 miles

This past weekend after stopping at a stop light and the creeping very slowly forward with traffic, each time I would creep forward, I heard a fairly loud rubbing sound coming from the rear passenger side as well as a definite "dragging" feeling. Once I sped up the rubbing sound and dragging feeling went away and I proceeded to drive the couple miles back home. I then took a look at the rear passenger side wheel and saw white smoke coming from the calipers and also saw that about 1/3 of the rotor was blackened and scored. Previously, I had sometimes noticed the smell of brakes when I would get out of the vehicle but never paid close attention to it. My brakes feel normal and the vehicle does not pull to one side or another when braking or driving, but obviously there is a problem.

I bought this Explorer from a local Ford dealer about a month ago. A local automotive shop suggested I call them and talk to them about this...his thinking was that the problem could very well be a safety issue and they should stand behind it, and/or the 36K mile factory warranty would cover it. What do you guys think about this? Is there any chance they will cover me on this or will they just say "sorry, it was sold "as is"?

Thanks!

it is a 2005 it is covered bumper to bumper isn;t it??

why would you wven take it anywhere but the dealer?
since it will totally be covered

 

[Am_Dew]

it is a 2005 it is covered bumper to bumper isn;t it??

why would you wven take it anywhere but the dealer?
since it will totally be covered

Well, I was not sure if the factory warranty would cover brake repairs like this and if not, they would not be my choice of repair shops.

 

[davidmmm69]

if i unserstand your problem it is smoking. almost like a stuck caliper?

 

[Am_Dew]

if i unserstand your problem it is smoking. almost like a stuck caliper?

Yes, I saw it smoking after the incident this past weekend and yes, it was coming from the caliper area. Since then I have been checking that wheel after every trip and have not seen it smoking since.

 

[gasparny]

brakes covered for 1 year

I was told by Ford Customer service that brake pads and rotors are covered for one year. And like you, dealership is the last place I would take my car, unless it was still under warranty

 

[tower]

Sounds like you have a bad rear caliper. Call or stop by the dearship and ask if they will cover it.

 

[Am_Dew]

UPDATE:

I ended up taking it back to the dealer the day after I posted. As I knew they would, they found burnt rotors and pads on the wheel that I saw smoking, and they replaced both rear wheels' sets of those under warranty, but said they found nothing wrong with the caliper so they did nothing there.

All has been fine with that wheel since but this past Saturday I smelled brakes again, so I pulled over and sure enough, there was smoke coming from the same rear wheel. So, obviously something is probably wrong with the caliper.

Now the question is...do I take it back to the same Ford dealer and insist they replace the caliper or do I take it to a different dealer, explain the situation to them, and let them take a look?