I think my E-Brake frooze to my wheels this morning!

[PappaSmurf]

it was about 25 F out this morning when I got into my car. I started out and my car felt sluggish whenever I let go of the gas pedal. I didnt take notice... too early till I got the the four way intersection and noticed that my car would slow down very quickly. So I pull off and get out to check my car out and I smelt something burning. I am not 100% sure but last year one of my breaks seized up during a cold day as well. When I went to pull the E-Brake I found that the E-Brake for loose for some reason.

Any suggestions, I will be taking it into a break place tonight or tomorrow. But I want to get a bit of information before I talk to them. Thanks.

Paps

[bigb9582]

just try not to use ur e brake in the winter. mine does it to and i dont use the ebrake to park over night. when i first notice mine doing it was last year, i ran it home from were i was at and the rotor was glowing red when i got home.

[BobKaBob]

very common problem... you cant really fix it either, just dont use the brake... either in park(ATX) or 1st or R(MTX) will keep you from going anywhere.

[99LazerRedMD]

my recently started sticking but i would drive off & you can hear it release. is it because of cold temps or just another problem?

[BobKaBob]

it happens in the cold, so its related, but i'm not sure if thats the problem or what... just one of those mysteries

[J-Man]

a boot on one of your cables might be worn out...thats what happened to me. it caused my drivers side wheel to lock up, so i replaced it and everything is golden!

-justin

[PappaSmurf]

I stopped bya shop yesterday. They pulled off the wheels and I told them about the problem.

It looks like there is a spring that pulls your E-Brake back in connected to the Calipers. The Tech said that my spring is not working correctly and that I will need a Rear Overhall to my Breaks (Rotors( Because its is screwed), Calipers (Because he said you can not just change the spring), and Pads (Because the back side is worn to nothing)

The tech said that during the winter time, the moisture and dust may freeze at that connection which may be causing it to sieze up.

I don't want to do that for a stupid spring problem, but I am not too sure on the alternatives.

_____________________________________
a boot on one of your cables might be worn out...thats what happened to me. it caused my drivers side wheel to lock up, so i replaced it and everything is golden!

-justin
______________________________

Which Boot are you talking about?

Thanks,

Paps

[J-Man]

at the end of the cable there should be a piece of rubber going over the exposed cable. if this is gone it will cause the cable to become extremely difficult to move. if it was me i would replace the cables before overhauling the rear brakes. its only a 30 dollar fix if i remember correctly, and it only took me and my dad an hour to change them out. hope this helps.

-justin

[PGCougar]

I highly doubt the cold's doing it to your car. Its around -15 to -20 F here, I always park with my ebrake on, and its never frozen on once.

[J-Man]

yea just order new cables (right and left) and get a chiltons its very easy. i suspect that is what it is. the cold makes the exposed cable even harder to move, due to water getting on it and freezing.

-justin

[Rikenbomb]

I would only put it up half way. That way it'll have some pressure, but not enogh for it to stick.

[CougarXR02]

Originally posted by: PGCougar
I highly doubt the cold's doing it to your car. Its around -15 to -20 F here, I always park with my ebrake on, and its never frozen on once.

It's not just the cold, its moisture. if your driving on slushy or wet roads, then park your car and set the ebrake, the moisture will freeze on the moving parts when the temp drops below freezing. Any morning that has l lot of frost on your car would mean there was enough moisture to potentially cause your ebrake to stick. in this case it's usually when you her it clunk and release as you start moving.

[EASYT34]

Just want to pass along my experience over the weekend to all those who are experiencing this problem.

Since last winter, my e-brake would freeze in place periodically. Until last week, it would always release eventually.

I'm in Maryland where it's been about 12 degrees for the past week. For a few days, my e-brake siezed and never fully released. I was able to drive around, however. Over the course of a few days, the passenger-side rear pads wore all the way down to the backing plates. I didn't realize this until that wheel siezed completely at a stop light, and I had to drag my screaming car to the side of the road. I had worn several grooves in that rotor and taken many chunks of metal out of it.

I took it to the shop over the weekend. Mechanic says the design of the e-brake cable (it has a dip in it just before attaching to the caliper) allows moisture to collect in the dip and freeze. He says I was lucky he was able to free it up, bleed the moisture out, and get the spring working again.

I spent $900 on the complete brake job...I was due for one soon, anyway.

Just a word of caution...keep an eye on that e-brake, don't drive if you suspect it's pinching even a little, and get that cable inspected before your ruin your rotor, too.

[mond12345]

I guess it all depends b/c here in PA it has been at -1 every night for the last two weeks and my e-brake has never froze!

[kilkenny]

well mine isnt quite freezing up because I am here in texas and it is not that cold out, but what mine does is after it has been sitting with the ebrake up for awhile and i got to drive it off it gives a pop noise like its unpopping the ebrake when the ebrake has already been put down. Its almost like something needs to be lubed up or somthing. Do you think it still might be that cable or something else.

[EASYT34]

Yeah, probably just lube up that spring mechanism where the e-brake cable attaches to the caliper. Just work in some WD40, and you should be good.

[Coug320]

I have been having the same problem, to where my back wheels would not move but also my traction light and abs light would stay on and my abs would not work. Took it to the dealership and they claimed they fixed it but now and then it still happens.