I have a 2002 Dakota, 2WD. New disc brakes were put on last winter before I bought it. When the weather got hot, the front rotors started running hot. If it is 70 deg, no problem, but if it is 85 and I run more than 10 miles or so they can get hot to the point of almost locking down. Today after about 10 miles they were cool, but the farther I went the hotter they got. When I got home, I jacked it up and the the wheel would not spin. I just let it cool off, did not mess with the brake pedal or caliper and they spun fine. I say fine, they do drag slightly, but wheel will free spin for 2-3 revs before stopping. So is this the caliper or is something else dragging to much causing the heat and then causing the caliper to lock down? Any suggestions?

 

did you replace/grease up the calipers? how dirty is the brake fluid?

 

rotors arent the issue. its either gonna be the calipers sticking, which is common, or the wheel bearings are starting to seize up.

 

the only grease you would need on the calipers is on the bracket where the caliper slides and the pins...

 

How much pedal force is required to slow your truck?

 

I greased the sliding surface and pins after the first incident. I know I need to change one bearing because a little is coming out the front after the major overheat on one of them. Could the bearing be heating up the whole area? Is it an issue there is always a small amount of dragging of the rotors against the brakes? But sounds like I need to change the bearings and calipers. No abnormal force needed to stop the truck.

 

bearings can cause brakes to drag because your bearing has slack in it, so the rotor isnt sitting flush causing it to drag on either end of the pad...

 

I had the same problem with my truck I first replaced my rubber brake lines and that solved my problem then my other wheel locked up and I replaced my caliper and its been fine ever since. Also when my wheel bearing was going(my brakes were new about 3,000 miles on them) and they never once got hot while driving.

 

they dont always get hot...but think about it, bearings take friction....bad bearings dont do as good under friction, friction makes heat...hmmm...could i be wrong?

 

If they are set up like the '99's......check the outside pad to be sure the pad spring is mounted correctly.....