Hello, I have a problem with my car, I hit the break a little hard because I was gonna miss my turn, so when I did that the car, rattled/rumbled vibrated big time, it is hard to describe but it came from the front end, maybe even more on the driver-side. Then the next time I hit the breaks at a modest pressure, it felt like the breaks were locking up. But if I drive it easy on the breaks, it is fine. Does anyone have an idea of what the problem might be? I would jack the front end of the car up to see what I can see, problem is we have a new apartment manager who is a problem, one guy was checking the oil in his car and got in trouble for doing that. Also it is pretty hot out there, but I am still considering to jack it up anyways if that is all that I can do to try and figure what is wrong with it. Thank you

 

Yeah, need to pull the tire, and have a look...... Got a friend with a driveway you could borrow for a bit? No point in annoying the apartment manager, he likely can make your life quite unpleasant, without a lotta effort......

What year durango?

 

that is what i had in mind, i was wondering if i should jack up the whole front end, i have been racking my brain to think of someone that has a driveway that i could borrow for a bit? it is a 2000, really is in great condition, came from california.

 

After a lot of driving, hold the back of your hand near the wheels. See if one is substantially warmer, if not hotter, than the other side. A dragging caliper will run hot.

 

Ok, i have already reached into feel the rotors, i was trying to feel the rotors looking for gouges, it was difficult to feel or see the rotor it felt very hot. i didnt feel any gouges on the rotor, atleast in the small spot that i could reach. the brakes have never made any sounds, or grinding sounds like i normally would feel when the pads ware out. i thought that when the brake pads started to ware down, that the squealy thing would make a noise and it hasn't. i did notice that when i put the brakes on it felt more like it would when it needs bleeding. thanks

 

The rotors get hot when you use the brakes. They turn rotational inertia into heat. In short, they stop you. If one is noticeably hotter than the other, that brake is dragging. Either the caliper is sticking or the flex hose isn't letting the pressure off. That will cause issues for sure.

 

ok, but what confuses me is that i cannot hear or see any signs of worn brake pads or rotors. if the brake was dragging wouldn't i hear it or feel it?
if the caliper is sticking or the flex hose isn't letting the pressure off. how do i go about looking for that to be the issue? thank you

 

If you don't normally hear your brakes when you step on the pedal, you won't hear them if they don't release either..... To test for that, Just jack up the front end, pump the brakes HARD a couple times, then try and spin the wheels by hand.... Dragging pads, regardless of the reason, will be difficult, if not impossible, to turn by hand.

 

ok, when i jack up the front end, i assume you mean both tires in the air, when i test it as you said, do i have to take the tires off too? or can i leave them on, i could do this real quick. also when i pump the brakes HARD a couple times, do i keep my foot on the brake pedal like i would when bleeding them? and then try and spin the wheels by hand? so if the wheels/tires spin easily, that means the brakes & rotor are ok? if not, i got bigger issues? thank you

 

Yeah, both tires up, leave the tires on. If you hold the brake pedal, you should NOT be able to spin the tires by hand. So, just pump 'em up, and then foot off the pedal. See what happens.