Brakes locking up!!

[DoctorRobert]

Okay, I did a search and found a little something about this - but I'm not sure it was definitive, so I'll ask for myself here...

I was driving down the road when my car started to dragging. It just didn't want to go, like there was something wrong with the engine or some such. Well, I made go on up the road, until I could pull off. When, I pulled off the road two of the brakes were smoking (the rear drivers side brake, and the front passenger side brake) and the other two were wicked hot. All of the brakes had locked up. The brake pedal was also very, very stiff. I couldn't get it to go down even a quarter of an inch. It was also stiff while the car was off. After letting it sit for about 30-minutes, the brakes had freed and I was able to make it back home. After I got here I did a rear brake change (the auto store didn't have the front brake pads, thankyouverymuch!) and then I risked driving it back over to get my windshield replaced. Well, it didn't do it again, but I really haven't driven it that much. Now I'm pretty scared to drive it.

I did some research on here and found a very, very similar post, and the verdict seemed to be the brake booster, but it was kind of open ended, so... was it the brake booster? Any ideas?

Oh... and one more question, this is probably stupid, but... how do I tell if my 'Vert has anti-lock brakes or not?

Thanks!!

[cmkelly]

No clue on the brake booster thing but I'm pretty sure you don't have antilock brakes. I don't think any of the verts came with them from the factory. The ones that have it got it at the dealership or after that. For the aftermarket antilocks I believe there is a second brake reservoir or some additional unit. But again, I don't think you have them. You do, however, have larger antilock brake pads on the front of the car to help with all the weight.

Group, please feel free to correct this info if not correct.

Welcome aboard!

[biggie]

Most likely just a bad caliper that will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

No Verts had ABS. If you had it though, in the engine bay, all the brake lines would run from the Master cylinder on the Driver's side to an ABS module on the Passenger side.

[DoctorRobert]

Yeah... that's what confused me. I was/am pretty sure it does not have anti-lock brakes, but when I went to buy the front pads I had to buy anti-lock brake pads. And the store I went to didn't have anti-lock brake pads, so I had to order them...

[DoctorRobert]

Most likely just a bad caliper that will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

Would one bad caliper lock up all the wheels though? And how would I find out which one it is?

[biggie]

Yeah... that's what confused me. I was/am pretty sure it does not have anti-lock brakes, but when I went to buy the front pads I had to buy anti-lock brake pads. And the store I went to didn't have anti-lock brake pads, so I had to order them...

The Verts do use the ABS calipers (they are slightly bigger, so used to stop the extra weight of the Verts), but do not have the ABS module that gives it ABS.

[biggie]

Would one bad caliper lock up all the wheels though? And how would I find out which one it is?

True didn't see it was all of them at first. I'd say it would have to be something with the booster or master cylinder that locked up then. And have never heard of that happening before.

[DoctorRobert]

True didn't see it was all of them at first. I'd say it would have to be something with the booster or master cylinder that locked up then. And have never heard of that happening before.

Yeah, it was all of 'em. And that's actually the exact answer I have heard from everyone who I have asked so far. After they locked up and I had stopped the car, I walked across the street to a conveniently located auto-repair shop with a big ole sign on the front that read "BRAKES." I asked the fellow manning it if he had any idea what might be wrong and he said... "Well, I'm no expert on brakes..." And he said I should walk down the street to the next shop and ask him, but that fella only wanted money and was no help at all! Anyway, I called and asked a bunch of people, but the answer has always been, "I've never heard of that before!" Especially since the pedal was all the way up and had way too much pressure. It probably is something with the booster and/or master cylinder. I'm going to give it a good bleedin' tonight and see what happens. Thanks, though.