Hi there, I have a 01 Caravan with an odd brake problem.
I drive for around 45 mins to an hour, brakes work great. Then after awhile of driving the steering wheel starts to shudder and the right front brake starts to grab.
When I come to a stop I have no need to keep my foot on the pedal as the right brake holds me back. When I step on the gas it groans and the wheel keeps shuddering.
If I keep driving and stop there's smoke coming from the wheel.
After it sits for the night it's fine till I take it for a long drive again.
This has me stumped and any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Steve

 

you probably need a brake Caliper and a brake hose.
and it might have also destroyed your front brake too. might also need pads and rotors.

 

Yeah but why do the brakes work fine most of the time and only once in awhile the front right one grabs?
Shouldn't it always do this if there's a prob?
The brakes were done over a year ago and the calipers are factory new.
The mechanic won't stand behind his work so I'm kind of screwed.
If I took the # off of the caliper do you thing the Dodge dealership would do an exchange?

Thanks!

 

Replace the hose. It is probably collapsing inside and blocking the fluid from returning to the master cylinder.

 

Yeah but why do the brakes work fine most of the time and only once in awhile the front right one grabs?
Shouldn't it always do this if there's a prob?

Does the hose collapse when it gets hot?

Is there a way to inspect the hose visibly and know that that's the problem?

Can I also do the same with the caliper?

Thanks!

 

I have had similar issues with my Caravan. The easy cheap thing to try is make sure that the caliper slides are well greased. Lack of grease can cause calipers to hang up strangely, or start to smoke, like when you are just cruising back from the restaurant with your father in law in the car.

 

I would have to agree with Toy, the pads need to slide freely in the guides. The stainless steel clips should be removed and the rust filed from the slots. I like to apply some never seize to the underside of the clips and to the tabs(cleaned) of the pads. If you have driven any amount with the brakes hanging plan on replacing the pads.

 

I have never had problems with the pads sliding in the calipers, for me it was always the slides that the caliper mounting bolts go through, I have even had a rebuilt one come in without enough grease on it that hung up in a few months.

As far as I know there is no good way to inspect the hose, its pretty much take it off, and if you have gone that far, you are probably going to have to replace it anyways to get a good seal.

 

Lots of the earlier minivans had a similiar problem: the caliper piston ***** in the bore and sticks taking out the pads and rotor. That's why when it cools over night it works for a while until it ***** in the bore. When you replace the caliper get the ones with steel pistons not phenolic pistons.