1998 Buick Regal Brakes locking up

BARBEVA

MEMBER
1998 BUICK REGAL
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
145,000 MILES

The front disc brakes lock up and the service engine soon, brake and trac off lights come on. The car was hard to move as if the breaks were locked up. Took to a repair shop said one front brake pad was fried and the fulid was burned. They replaced both front calipers, pads and hoses and resurfaced the rotors. One week later the same warning lights came on. Lite was off when mechanic checked. Said could not tell what the problem was since the computer had no message code. Problem still happens every few days. What is causing the brakes to lock up?

4 Replies

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

Bad hoses, or bad calipers.

This is what I do when trying to figure out which one is being the problem.
Jack up the car and put on stands.

Have someone in the car with the engine running.
Have them step on the brakes firmly.
With you standing at a wheel, have them let off the brake.
You should be able to start turning that wheel freely as soon as they let of the pedal.
Repeat 3 more times at each wheel.
Once you find the problem wheel then you have to figure out if the caliper is not releasing the piston, or the caliper is not sliding back to a neutral position.

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Sunday, August 9th, 2009 AT 7:23 PM

BARBEVA

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Buddycraigg,

In our original question we stated that the Calipers and hoses were replaced. Therefore, we would think that these parts would not be the reason for the continued problem.

Do you have any other ideas?

TomE

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Monday, August 10th, 2009 AT 4:41 PM

BUDDYCRAIGG

MECHANIC
2,262 POSTS

I cannot count how many times I have installed "rebuilt" parts, only to have them fail in short order.
I have a car here right now that the rebuilt AC compressor lasted 2 weeks.

I don't trust rebuilt parts unless I am the one who rebuilt them.

I have instructed you as to what tests you need to preform, respond with the outcome and I will be able to assist you further.

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Monday, August 10th, 2009 AT 10:52 PM

AKANYR

MEMBER
52 POSTS

U said they changed the front calipers, did they ever check to see what caused them to freeze up? They told you the brake fluid was burnt, but you didn't say is they flushed out the entire brake line & added new fluid. As far as the brakes locking up: did you check to make sure the carpeting or a wirefrom under your dash isn't getting caught up in the brake 'stem' as u push down on the brake? If the brake pedal is returning to the normal position but the brakes are still locked up try checking the brake lines. See if it's pinched somewhere or bent or caught somehow so as to not allow the brake fliud to easily move back & forth thru the brake line. If the brake fliud is not able to flow back after you release your foot from the pedal then the caliper will stay in the 'braking' position, sqeazing the brake pads together to stop the car.

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