Brake lock ups in Canada.

[a2jack]

CsC has an ongoing diiscussion on brake lock up when the Smart is not driven often. Apparently it has to do with the composition of the brake pads. See:

http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?showtopic=12872

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by a2jack

CsC has an ongoing diiscussion on brake lock up when the Smart is not driven often.

Turns out if you take your car to a car wash. Park it outside in subfreezing cold ice will form and the parking brake will lock up. Had it happen to me a few times in a Mercury.

[a2jack]

Seems to be pad composition. Per MB mechanic.

A2Jack.

[jwight]

Glad we don't have to put up with that dealership! $187 for a brake "adjustment" and the car does the same thing when the guy picks it up. Utter BS. I had the same thing happen on a Saturn for no apparent reason; the longer the car sat the more the brakes would stick. Took new pads and turning the rotors to get rid of the problem. Not too encouraged about the Canadian comments about "real" brake pads; sounds like that may be one of the first "must do" mods.

[a2jack]

Yeah! and this was a non-car savvy girl. Makes you mad.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by a2jack

Seems to be pad composition. Per MB mechanic.

A2Jack.

Frozen or sticky caliper slides can cause this problem by not allowing the caliper piston to relax or back off slightly once the pedal pressure is released.

I read all the posts relative to this problem on the Canadian site and it even happened when the car was parked in a heated parking garage.

If the master cylinder spool was not clearing the front brake circuit port, trapping the pressure in the lines and caliper, the caliper would remain locked up. Wear in the linkage from the pedal to the MC could result in mis-positioning of the MC spool when at rest or presumably at rest.
Not sure just how the brake MC linkage is set up but will surely check it out once I have my own car to look at. Not likely the pads have enough surface tension at rest to lock up the brakes like they described....needing to *jerk* the car by flooring it to free them up.....that's BS mechanics at its finest! LOL