S14 Rear brakes grabbing

[TrippLives]

When I first bought my 95, the rear pads were worn to almost the metal. I had no idea about what to get or whats better than what and I bought the crappy metalic pads from advanced auto and have been living with them sense, but right after I installed these, I smelled smoke in the car a few days after when I was on the interstate, and I pulled over because of how heavy it got and found that the passanger rear pad's paint was burning off, and the pad itself was glowing red hot on the edge nearest the rotor. I talked to the previous owner and he told me there was always a problem with the rear brakes and he just had to buy pads every 2 years or so. It hasnt bugged me for the last year and a half untill recently when I smelled that smoke again but this time its coming from the driver rear brakes, and continues to do so. The pads are obviously grabbing on this side, I downshift and seldom use the brakes at >30MPH, and went out driving without using the brakes at all to make sure of this- the rotor and rim are scolding hot to the touch on this side (after driving any distance), while the passenger rear side is cool to the touch...

on top of all this a few times in the last 3 days I lose alot of brake pressure, the pedal travels all the way to the floor before I start to get ANY brake, and then a few minutes later its fine again...I dont get it. I checked the brake fluid level and its fine, i checked it for whiteness or bubbles and didnt see any so its not overheating...the ONLY thing I could think of is that driver rear calliper when my friend was looking at it said that it was leaking a little bit but I didnt see any leaks, and I have only had to add fluid twice in the almost 2 years I've owned the car...

anyone got ideas?
Modified by TrippLives at 7:43 PM 5/12/2009

[driven_]

i had the same problem with the brake going all the way to the floor like you a few days ago after hard braking.

i was pretty scared that i might hit someone,

as if the brakes were worn out, then minutes later its fine.

i dunno. but its fine again, *phew

hope you solve your problem.

[Vegascorbin]

If you have an exaust leak and the brake line gets hot it will boil in that one spot, expand applying the brake and also createing an air bubble (cause of low pedel).

Once the car cools down everything will appear normal. This happened acouple of years ago to us on our old race car. Fixed the exaust leak and the brakes were fine.

May or may not be your problem but at least something to look at.