Passenger Brake Lock-up??

[Danny Leblanc]

I was driving around last night and was comming up to a set of lights so I easily press my breaks. The X started pulling to the left so I knew something was wrong. We kept on driving (maybe 5 mins) and started to smell something burning. I pulled over and turned off the truck. Smoke started comming out of the passenger side wheel well. I touched the locker and it burned my hand.

Before I start ripping apart the front brake assembly, what usually causes brake lock up??

Thanks
Danny

 

[pughman]

might not be the brakes...

 

[Danny Leblanc]

might not be the brakes...

Do you think it might be my locker?

 

[Danny Leblanc]

Well, I took off the front wheel. My locker is full of grease (previous owner) and I couldn't smell burn grease. My passenger side pads are rubbing and I noticed I need a new front brake hose.

 

[marragtop]

It could be any of the following: caliper slide pins hanging up, bad brake flex line, or sticking caliper. Since the hose is new, I'd start by lubing the slide pins and make sure they aren't installed upside down. If that doesn't fix it, consider replacing the caliper.

 

[Danny Leblanc]

It could be any of the following: caliper slide pins hanging up, bad brake flex line, or sticking caliper. Since the hose is new, I'd start by lubing the slide pins and make sure they aren't installed upside down. If that doesn't fix it, consider replacing the caliper.

The hose isn't new, I meant that I needed to buy a new one. I going to buy new rotors, pads, front brake lines and new calipers for both sides in the front. They pads are in pretty bad shape and so are the rotors.

 

[marragtop]

I suggest you soak the flex/metal line fittings real good with PBlaster or wd40 before trying to get them apart.

 

[Tony H]

Was there any leaking of Brake fluid on the Pads? That will make them extremely sticky. Wouldn't explain the hot burning though.

Is the rotor blue in color from being extremely hot?

Did the car continue to Pull after letting off the Brake and driving or did it just pull whne applying the brakes?

 

[Danny Leblanc]

Was there any leaking of Brake fluid on the Pads? That will make them extremely sticky. Wouldn't explain the hot burning though.

Is the rotor blue in color from being extremely hot?

Did the car continue to Pull after letting off the Brake and driving or did it just pull whne applying the brakes?

There is no brake fluid leaking except for my passenger rear brake cylinder. Yes, the rotor has a bluish tint to it from the burning.

It started to pull only when I applyed the brakes, then we smelled something burning so I pulled over thats when the smoke started. I took it out today for about 5 hours and there was no pulling or smoke. I even felt the rim and it was cool to the touch.

Danny

 

[Tony H]

You didn't change anything and today it was OK?
Very odd. sounds almost like a check valve in the MAster cylinder.

How dirty is the Brake fluid in the Master? It might be wise to Push both front caliper Pistons in, suck the fluid out of the reservoir then fill with New. Kind of a cheesey Fluid flush

 

[Danny Leblanc]

You didn't change anything and today it was OK?
Very odd. sounds almost like a check valve in the MAster cylinder.

How dirty is the Brake fluid in the Master? It might be wise to Push both front caliper Pistons in, suck the fluid out of the reservoir then fill with New. Kind of a cheesey Fluid flush

I think it stopped after I let it cool down.... not sure why.

Yeah, the fluid is old so when I do the front brakes, I'm going to replace all the fluid.

Explorers take Dot 3 right?

 

[duff]

That's happened to me with my Bronco. I was blasting down to the beach when I smelled something burning. First I thought it was some other fool and then possibly some paving going on. 15 miles later I stop and smoke is pouring out of the passenger side wheel well.

It was really hot. I got the wheel off but I could not get near the rotor. A NJ state cop stopped by, looked and just said "Hummm you're stuck" "Guess I can't help you with that". Nice guy - I just laughed.

I took ice from the cooler and placed it on the caliper to cool it down. Watching it melt down looked like a fast forwarded video. Hey ! I couldn't waste time. I was going fishing and had a permit to wheel on the beach(Glad I brought tools with me though). After it was cool enought to touch, I pried the caliper back with a big screw driver and spun the rotor. Pressed on the brake petal. The rotor still spun freely. I put the wheel back on and and did a short test drive. Everthing seemed OK ! So; I resumed blasting.

Didn't catch any fish. But the problem never happened again. Five years later, still have the same master cyl and caliper. I swear my 85 Bronco thrives on abuse. I suspect the caliper stuck.

I would just keep a close eye on it for a while. I don't have that much confidence in my 91 sploader.

 

[92 green sport]

It is your caliper. It needs to be replaced.

 

[ExploderHOKIE]

I agree, go with a caliper, they're not too expensive and it should take care of the lock up

 

[CDW6212R]

Any time a vehicle is not driven for months at a time, calipers can begin to stick. If that happens, replace both sides of calipers. Use the best fluid that you can find. Good luck,