Coming back from a vacation....

[itreflop117]

So... I came back from California yesterday to finally see my great car again. However, i'm not greeted by a warm welcoming...

After ten days, the car was probably driven once or twice, and started every other day. Now here's the problem. When I first started driving my car, it was dragging. In other words the brakes were somewhat locked, it would be a little difficult to accelerate, and I would slow down VERY quickly without even touching the brake peddle.

For example, I'd come to a complete stop even when I'm in drive without keeping my foot down on the brake. I'd also come up to a complete stop and see smoke coming from my tires and a weird burning smell. My question is this: how do i stop this burning smell, smoke, and dragging/brake lockage from happening?

I've already driven it almost 50 miles on the highway going at least 80 hoping to loosen things up.. but this problem still occurs. The funny thing is it was completely PERFECT when i left it.... anybody have any ideas? thanks guys.

[Bitter]

you'll need to take the brakes apart and find what's binding or locked up. smoke/smell front or rear? I'd suggest if its front to just get 2 new rotors and 2 loaded calipers and replace all that in the front. Odds are you've already totally cooked those pads and rotors. Hopefully the extreme heat didn't damage the wheel bearings (cook the grease out) or the rubber brake hoses. You know we had some local flooding, maybe the car sat in some water?

[itreflop117]

oh jeez... i really hope i don't have to replace all the front end brakes with calipers, rotors, and pads...... but yea i'll check that out. thanks

[96coroll]

Oh ya i think you'll find that the calliper will go in when you squeeze it with a U clamp but when you get into the car and apply the brakes it won't release. And If you drived it that much you'll 90% have done damage and i don't think you'll get away from this with out changing the callaper and probally the hose. And ya actually the extreme heat will prob have warped the routers. And maybe since the fluid probally got to a boailing point when you were driving it could have lossened up the dirt within the brake lines and could have spread through out your system.

I hope this is not the case as it'll be probably ~150 in parts alone. Just wondering why didn't you stop when you smelt the burning and smoke too.

[itreflop117]

Originally Posted by 96coroll

Oh ya i think you'll find that the calliper will go in when you squeeze it with a U clamp but when you get into the car and apply the brakes it won't release. And If you drived it that much you'll 90% have done damage and i don't think you'll get away from this with out changing the callaper and probally the hose. And ya actually the extreme heat will prob have warped the routers. And maybe since the fluid probally got to a boailing point when you were driving it could have lossened up the dirt within the brake lines and could have spread through out your system.

I hope this is not the case as it'll be probably ~150 in parts alone. Just wondering why didn't you stop when you smelt the burning and smoke too.

I didn't stop because when I replaced my brake pads last time, a lot of my mechanics told me a little smoke and burning smell is alright because they have to break in. So I just thought driving around and really fast would help, but shit what do I know... I'm only 17.

[itreflop117]

But yea, thanks for the replies and info guys. Unfortunately, I had to go out and buy rotors, pads AND a new caliper because the cylinder froze and locked up. The good news is was that I was able to do all the labor myself!

thank you toyotanation!

[Bitter]

Honestly, I'd replace the other side just so both are new and have the same grabbing/stopping power. Glad you seem to have it fixed now though!