Brake problems with questions

[The patriot]

Dad got an old Dodge accLAIM. (emphasis is mine)

He has had problems with the front brakes whenever they get warm.

They will drag when theyre warm. The drag is pretty bad! Seems to be more on the passengers side.

He did all the calipers, pads, rotors, hoses, spring kits, the master cylinder has recently been done. There's NO grease on the linings whatsoever! They still drag.

If he drives it 50 miles w/o using the brakes, theyre OK. As soon as they get warm, they bind up. The brakes make so much heat that you cant touch the rim!! He can even smell them at times.

My Dad is not hard on brakes.

What can be the problems with the brakes?

Ideas... . suggestions?

TIA

Eric

 

[B.G. Smith]

Hoses and calipers are usually suspect but since he has replaced those I Would bet that the linkage between the master cylinder and the booster is too long not allowing the master cylinder to completely release. bg

 

[KBennett]

I was thinking hoses also. I have seen hoses start to collapse causing the pressure to stay in the caliper.



Eric, you stated that when the brakes get warm is when the problem arises but maybe it is there all the time and the brakes get hotter as he drives?



Could it have something to do with the ABS? There are some valves in the brake circuit that may be sticking.

 

[The patriot]

I told him last night that there was an adjustable length arm on my old 74 duster 360 ( 20 years ago was the last time I messed with one ... . ) and MAYBE his car would have one.



He did both flexable brake lines on the front. For all practical purposes... everything is new on the front.

In the morning he jacked up the car and the wheels will rotate. They do have some slight drag (will go maybe one revolution) but they DO turn.

After theyre warmed up... . they WILL NOT turn.

In the AM the car will roll on a slight grade, once the brakes are warmed up it WILL NOT roll on the same grade.



He tried another caliper yesterday, but no change.

Everything goes together as it should (he's not assembling it wrong) but it still binds. ?????

Eric

 

[The patriot]

Oh BTW

It dont have ABS.

 

[The patriot]

"Eric, you stated that when the brakes get warm is when the problem arises but maybe it is there all the time and the brakes get hotter as he drives? "



I'll ask him, but I dont think so.

They live in a very rural area, and he may not need brakes for 30 miles at a time. He has checked them and said they were cool-very lightly warm to the touch after 20-30 miles of driving.

However as soon as he needs them, they build?/retain? heat, and the one side dont release. ????????

I tend to think one revolution is a bit on the dragging side..... but what can be done to stop that?

Hell... . I got to be sure that my truck dont blow away on a windy day... ...

Eric