Metro Drags when it gets warm...

[Deliriou5]

Year: 1996
model: Metro LSI
engine mileage: 140K
work done: Replaced front brake pads and driver side caliper. Tune-up replacing plugs and wires.

What are the symptoms:
When I first started experiencing this, I had to slam on my brakes to avoid an accident. About close to a mile later up the interstate, I smelled EXTREME brake burning smell (the smell that brakes only seem to make) and the metro began to drag as if the emergency brake was engaged. I pulled into a parking lot to find that what looked like the drivers side wheel was smoking with the bad smell. After letting it cool for about an hour, I decided see if I could drive it home, (about 20 miles away). I got it home, no problem and figured it was a result of having to slam the brakes.

The next day, on the way to work, I experienced a bit of drag about a mile from work. (About a total of 35 miles away from where I live) I thought nothing of it, untill on the way home, the brake pedal got extremely hard to push, so I pulled off thinking it was a brake problem again. however this time finding that after I parked it, it was nearly impossible to move the car unless I let it cool for about an hour. By this time, the brake had loosened and I decided to drive it home again. About 10 miles from home, it began to drag again, and the brake got hard to push as well, but this time with no smoke or smell

I parked the car, and this last weekend, I replaced the driver side caliper and both sets of brake pads on the front, in addition to that, I did a tune up on the car. (Just in case... You never know) the car has worked great all weekend untill today, when I started getting some extreme drag on the car. I pulled off the highway, and found it smoking again with that major brake smell. I got it home again, but now it is to the point that if is driven any extended distance the car, if it does not get pulled over to cool from whatever is causing this, probably would stop entirely and not go at all.

Anyone heard of this? I am thinking it is either a transmission problem or a master cylinder problem... Maybe even clutch?

[mr.Hand]

could be a clogged brake line maybe, i had this problem you are experiencing as well but after I replaced my calipers I stopped having the problem

[Rooy]

Old rubber flex lines can act like a one way valve, not allowing brake pressure to flow back and allow the caliper or wheel cylinder to release.

Can you pinpoint which brake(s) is locking up?

[Deliriou5]

Gotta assume the drivers side. That's where the smoke is coming from.

[Rooy]

Originally Posted by Deliriou5

Gotta assume the drivers side. That's where the smoke is coming from.

Front or rear on the driver's side? Whichever it is, I would replace the flex hose and inspect/replace the caliper or wheel cylinder.

[leonbentz]

I had a car do this once. The caliper pistons most likely are sticking bad. I had to pull the calipers apart and hone them out and replace the o-rings.

[doug7x]

Yep...leonbentz is probably right...had the caliper piston stick on me a couple of times...this is fairly common...just free it up or replace it (about 50 bucks @ NAPA)