Big brake problem

[cwb]

Driving this afternoon, mashed the brakes, and bam, it about threw me through the window. All of a sudden, the stupid brakes have started locking up. It's so violent when it happens I've only done it a few times--tried to get home without getting on them much. Anyway, it seems to be coming from the front driver's side but not sure if it may be other wheels as well. Going home I hit the brakes a couple of times and all was normal, but the other times it basically locked them up to the point of barking the tires or at least one tire (not sure). Both front calipers were installed rebuilt about a year ago, and the system has been machine bled about two months ago. I've never looked at my drum brakes at all, but as I said, I think--think--the problem is in the front.

Advice? Help!

Chris

 

[cahilc]

First guess ? Ok, I'll try. Think it's the front, huh.

Sounds like your rotors are contaminated. Did you clean your wheels and use a little bit to much detailer ? That would be best case. Worst case ... something is leaking ... Oil ??? ... onto the calipers. Check'em be sure they are clean.

For some weird reason, oil on calipers acts like sandpaper and will lock up the contaminated brake/rotor/wheel combo.

HTH,
Cahil

 

[60wag]

If it "locked up" every time you used the brakes, I'd go with a fluid leak or something at the discs or rear drums. But you say sometimes its normal and sometimes locks up? It feels more like a booster problem to me. You might try to talk to a booster rebuilder to find out if they ever fail in that manner.