My car has been parked outside for the past 10 days. This morning I started her up to go get an oil change. I always leave my hand brake on, so I released the brake, put her in reverse to back up and heard a loud pop. This has happened before after I have washed the car and let it set for a few days. But this time, it seemed to be slugish and slowed very quickly when in neutral. It seemed the brakes were partially engaged. Anyway, after driving about 20 miles round trip I got back home and there was a smell coming from the passenger rear and the wheel was so hot to I could hardly touch it. The other three wheels were normal temp. Is my right rear brake stuck. If so how can I get it unstuck. Will this heat buildup damage my wheel? Help
Don

 

Sounds normal for metallic break pads to stick after being wetted and sitting for a while. Do a series of medium speed stops with the break pedal and separately with just the e- break ( keep the button pushed the whole time ). See if that doesn't solve the dilema. If not you'll have to take the wheel off and do some investigating. Good luck.

 

This may not be so bad. If you can jack the car pull the wheel and look for the E brake cable and linkage and tap on it and work the E brake handle or just pull on the cable under the car to free up the brake. Once you get it free use some white lithium grease on the moving parts of the E brake...cable linkage ect. DO NOT GET GREASE ON THE brake OR THE ROTTER
If you are unable to do this your self any brake shop tire shop maybe even the place you got your oil changed at can help

 

I'm with Puddy. Take the wheel off and tap it with a hammer. That should release it. Driving it for very long could cause it to warp your rotor from heat and definitely wear you brake pad out quickly.

If you leave you car out with the brake on for long periods, Chalk one of the tires. Then release the brake. Anything will work, brick, piece of wood, rock, step mother, ect..

 

I will try to pop it loose by braking heavy. If that doesn't work. i will take the wheel off. Thanks for the input.

Don

 

keep us posted Don. i want to know about this.

 

Bill
Will do. Probably Saturday. Hope it's something simple.
Don

 

I wouldn't recommend the hard braking method. It is easy to take the tire off and tap the e-brake. You can do damage to your brakes by the hard method. Your e-brake is not letting go of your caliper and your pads are rubbing. Driving it any distance will, at a minimum, wear your pad a lot.

 

How will you damage the brakes exactly by braking hard? When you install new rotors or pads that is the proper brake in method for brake components. Obviously something is rusted or binding a bit and the hard breaking might just pop it loose quickly instead of having to jack up the car and take the wheel off and who knows what else.

 

His brake was rubbing and he smelled something coming from the wheel.

Normal, I think not!

He is burning his brake pad.

How hard is it to take a wheel off? That is a lot better than driving with a dragging brake.

Troy, I am not trying to make this a competition. I 'm trying to fix this problem the best way.