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Okay when the car is cold I can push it in and out of the garage no problem, just drove 10 miles to my new house and I cannot push the car on flat ground. What should I be looking at here? I am assuming this is not normal.
Okay when the car is cold I can push it in and out of the garage no problem, just drove 10 miles to my new house and I cannot push the car on flat ground. What should I be looking at here? I am assuming this is not normal.
Jack
I would jack up the car and see if I have a wheel that I am unable to turn. If you have a infrared temp reader check each rotor for excessive heat.
Had to tell. But, being a guessing type of guy, I'll take a stab at it.
The rubber jumper hoses from brake lines to calipers are old and SHOT inside. You apply the brakes and all seems to work fine; but if the inside is deteriorating and gunked up, it could prevent the brakes from fully releasing. This has happened on many a vehicle and is usually noticed by the extra heat in the wheel that has a constant partial apply. In some cases, the heat can get so high that a tire (and shortly after, the car) catches fire.
If that's your problem, consider yourself lucky that you found it before the worst came to pass.
If that's NOT your problem...well...it was only a guess.
Annnnnd another thing or two: If the brake pedal is not returning all the way "up" it will cause the plunger in the master cylinder to hold pressure against the pads which heat up and grab the rotors.......
also....if the rod from the brake pedal to the master cylinder is adjusted to be "too long" it will not allow the master cylinder plunger to release all the pressure in the calipers causing the pads to grab on the rotors when hot.....Whew!
Annnnnd another thing or two: If the brake pedal is not returning all the way "up" it will cause the plunger in the master cylinder to hold pressure against the pads which heat up and grab the rotors.......
also....if the rod from the brake pedal to the master cylinder is adjusted to be "too long" it will not allow the master cylinder plunger to release all the pressure in the calipers causing the pads to grab on the rotors when hot.....Whew!
(Don't ask how I know this )
The "too long rod problem" can be tested by loosening the master cylinder from the booster (assuming it has power brakes) and check if the brakes disengage.
Thanks everyone, I will look into all of that. Unfortunately it will be next weekend life is getting in the way again in a good way going down to Charlston to watch my Son graduate from A school.
To test the jumper hose theory, you will have to drive the car a few miles. When you return, place hand on rim of each wheel to compare levels of heating. If there is one wheel that is much hotter, there is your [primary] problem. If ALL wheels are hot, the master cylinder theory could be in play.
Change ALL rubber jumper hoses, even if only one wheel is hot. It won't be much longer till the others go "south".
Had to tell. But, being a guessing type of guy, I'll take a stab at it.
The rubber jumper hoses from brake lines to calipers are old and SHOT inside. You apply the brakes and all seems to work fine; but if the inside is deteriorating and gunked up, it could prevent the brakes from fully releasing. This has happened on many a vehicle and is usually noticed by the extra heat in the wheel that has a constant partial apply. In some cases, the heat can get so high that a tire (and shortly after, the car) catches fire.
If that's your problem, consider yourself lucky that you found it before the worst came to pass.
If that's NOT your problem...well...it was only a guess.
That's beginning to be a problem with all of the cheap low quality brake hoses on the market today. The inside of the hose deteriorates and a flap of rubber hangs down and works like a one way valve letting the brake fluid go into the caliper and not back . The first time I encountered this was years ago when one of my cars was wearing brake pads in a short time on one wheel . Replaced the caliper and still had the same problem . Raised the wheel and it was locked up . Cut the hose at the caliper and the wheel freed up . Replaced the hose and it worked fine.