2001 Ford Focus, front left brake does not release completely

[alexg]

I'm posting all over the internet in hopes of finding a solution, so here you go:



At first I wasn't sure what was making my brakes seemingly stick after stepping on them once once I begin a drive.

First I would pull out of my driveway and drive down a bit, car would accelerate great.
First stoplight I hit the brakes, sit... sit... go. Car takes a bit longer to accelerate and can't maintain speed if no gas is given..
Next stoplight, I hit the brakes.. the pedal doesn't depress as much before gripping hard... sit... sit... go. The car takes extremely long to accelerate and the rpm's are out the roof for the speed im going. Somethings wrong.

I dealt with this for a few months since work was close.

A couple of days ago, I was told to replace pretty much everything to do with my brakes, so I did.
Replaced both calipers, brake pads and both rotors.

The brakes are MUCH smoother now, but they still drag after driving a bit... the problem still exists.

I went ahead and got new tires, got my front end aligned, and balanced all my tires, to be sure that wasn't a factor.
The road is much smoother, the car no longer pulls to the left, aaand it no longer vibrates around 70mph...
Lots of other problems fixed, but my MAIN problem, the one that is killing my gas mileage+engine+brakes.... still exists.
Frustrating :/


Today after driving I went around my car to see if I could notice anything weird, since the brakes had been dragging the whole drive home (I'm wasting a lot of gas).

The front left wheel smelled like something was slightly burning (new brakes smell) and the air around it was extremely hot. All of the other tires were fine and didn't have the temperature this side had.

So what's going on with my front left brake?? Why does the caliper not release all the way?? is there something in my brake fluid?



Here's something interesting that may help determine what it might be:
If I can get at least up to 40+ mph, I can reach down to the pedal and lightly and rapidly tap the brake pedal with my hand, and the brake will release completely for a short time (most of the time) until I actually step on it again to use the brakes. Weird huh?? And the faster I'm going when I do this, the better the brakes "clear up" or "release".. the better they stop dragging... The car accelerates like it's supposed to, or almost anyway.


What's causing this and why does lightly and rapidly tapping the pedal clear things up for a short amount of time?
Most importantly, HOW DO I FIX IT!!

[oldfishboat]

Could it be the break line is colapsing and or getting kinked. Not alowing break fluid back outa the calipers?

Had it happen on and old truck I had. Usualy happend when stuff got hot. I dont realy know notin so just a thought.

[fireball0012]

sounds like your lf brake hose is bad. also you might want to exchange your brake fluid.

[alexg]

Thanks for the responses!
I'm taking it in to a shop this friday and I'm going to have them check for any possible restrictions, and ultimately change the hoses and fluid completely.

I'll let you know how that goes and if I need any further help. Thanks!

[phantom_smack]

Could the rubber brake hose be twisted in the wrong direction?That will make sense if you are looking at the hose one way is a tighter twist than the other.

[alexg]

Hey,

I got the car fixed this friday.
I took it to hibdon tires and first they tried replacing both hoses. Didn't work.

So at this point it could only be a couple of things the guy said, either the diaphragm or the booster.

He lifted the car up, took the wheels off, set it in park and let the rotors spin.
They locked up after applying pressure to the brake once. He tried to turn them and they wouldn't turn.
He then disconnected the booster while the car was running.. the rotors start to spin. Wow.
He reconnects the booster and the rotors lock up. Double wow.


Got a new booster, problem fixed. Car drives wonderful.
I'm not really sure what was wrong with the booster though, specifically..