boiling break fluid?
 

Driving from DC to Fairfax yesterday my brake peddle got EXTREMELY hard. I could tell a caliper(s) was / were dragging. The car did not pull in any direction when breaking or coasting. Bumper to bumper traffic on 66 the left rear starts making a loud popping noise. I think the fulid (blue racing fluid 2 years old) boiled and the steam pushed past the caliper piston. Totally guessing and open to other opinions.

Question, would a dragging caliper cause the fluid to boil? Anyone experienced anything similar. I rebuilt the calipers a few years ago and put new pads on a month ago.

After the loud popping noises the breaks got much better and were basically normal by the time I got to my office.

Suggestions appreciated

Chris

73 911 E

pedal bushings the culprit?

Yes a dragging binder can boil fluid. Pedal bushings is a good place to start. An old rubber line can close up and clog causing the same symptoms too. I bet you got the caliper so hot the seals roasted and that is why you saw smoke/steam. Burning brake fluid looks white like steam as it is glycol based. Rebuild all calipers that are sticking or are not freshly done and replace any older lines and likely the rotor too. Calipers go bad fast if street/track driven, rebuilding is no problem.

Damn homynyms.. break.. brake.. ;)

The problem persists but I felt the brake calipers and they were not very hot. The pedal moves freely and the car does not pull to any one side. During a long drive down 66 yesterday the pedal got EXTREMELY hard yet I had not used the brakes much. The car coasted freely (no drag).

It's nice haveing a firm pedal but it feels as if it might break somthing because of the extreme built up pressure.

Thanks,

Chris
73 911 E