'05 Dragging Rear Brake (revisited)

A little over 4 months ago I took my '05 XLT back to the dealer I
bought it used from because the right rear brake was occaisionally
dragging while starting out or very slowly creeping in traffic or at a
stop light. They said they did not find anything wrong and replaced
both rear pads and rotors.

All was well for a little while then it started happening again. Last
week I took it back to them and this time they replaced the pads,
sanded the rotors and also replaced the caliper on the right rear
thinking that it must be defective. Well, since then I have heard the
right rear brake dragging again three times, each time when I first
started off after not driving the vehicle for a bit...ie. first thing
this morning it happened again. I only hear that brake dragging when I
am starting out and once I get above about 10 mph, the dragging noise
stops.

Since they replaced the caliper and the dragging continues, what else
could be wrong?

Bob wrote:
> A little over 4 months ago I took my '05 XLT back to the dealer I
> bought it used from because the right rear brake was occaisionally
> dragging while starting out or very slowly creeping in traffic or at a
> stop light. They said they did not find anything wrong and replaced
> both rear pads and rotors.
>
> All was well for a little while then it started happening again. Last
> week I took it back to them and this time they replaced the pads,
> sanded the rotors and also replaced the caliper on the right rear
> thinking that it must be defective. Well, since then I have heard the
> right rear brake dragging again three times, each time when I first
> started off after not driving the vehicle for a bit...ie. first thing
> this morning it happened again. I only hear that brake dragging when I
> am starting out and once I get above about 10 mph, the dragging noise
> stops.
>
> Since they replaced the caliper and the dragging continues, what else
> could be wrong?

First I would try to confirm what you hear. See if you can jack up both
rear wheels off the floor and try to turn the wheel. If its dragging,
it could be the emergency brake that's dragging and not the disc
brakes. The e-brakes are internal inside the rotor. It is basically
shoe brakes that can be adjusted with the star wheel adjustment tool or
a screwdriver. Try pulling on the e-brake cable underneath the truck to
ensure its not hung up someplace.

In article . com>,
Mikepier > wrote:
:
:Bob wrote:
:> A little over 4 months ago I took my '05 XLT back to the dealer I
:> bought it used from because the right rear brake was occaisionally
:> dragging while starting out or very slowly creeping in traffic or at a
:> stop light. They said they did not find anything wrong and replaced
:> both rear pads and rotors.
:>
:> All was well for a little while then it started happening again. Last
:> week I took it back to them and this time they replaced the pads,
:> sanded the rotors and also replaced the caliper on the right rear
:> thinking that it must be defective. Well, since then I have heard the
:> right rear brake dragging again three times, each time when I first
:> started off after not driving the vehicle for a bit...ie. first thing
:> this morning it happened again. I only hear that brake dragging when I
:> am starting out and once I get above about 10 mph, the dragging noise
:> stops.
:>
:> Since they replaced the caliper and the dragging continues, what else
:> could be wrong?
:
:First I would try to confirm what you hear. See if you can jack up both
:rear wheels off the floor and try to turn the wheel. If its dragging,
:it could be the emergency brake that's dragging and not the disc
:brakes. The e-brakes are internal inside the rotor. It is basically
:shoe brakes that can be adjusted with the star wheel adjustment tool or
:a screwdriver. Try pulling on the e-brake cable underneath the truck to
:ensure its not hung up someplace.

Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't have any way to jack up both
wheels...my workshop/tool resources are very limited. What I don't
understand if it is something with the e-brake, then why it is dragging
because I rarely ever use the e-brake...and I can say for sure that I
did not use the e-brake between last night when I drove the vehicle and
it was not dragging and this morning when I heard the dragging noise
again.

Bob wrote:
> A little over 4 months ago I took my '05 XLT back to the dealer I
> bought it used from because the right rear brake was occaisionally
> dragging while starting out or very slowly creeping in traffic or at a
> stop light. They said they did not find anything wrong and replaced
> both rear pads and rotors.
>

Sounds like you've zeroed in on the right rear. I was initially
thinking it might be the parking brake, which is a separate drum brake
inside the rotor. The rotor is shaped like a hat, with the brim being
the disc brake, and the head portion of the "hat" being the drum. But
you say you don't use the parking brake, so it doesn't seem likely to
be the cause.

Well, they replaced everything except the part I would suspect- the
caliper. If that is sticking, it could cause your problem.
-Paul

In article .com>,
> wrote:
:
:Bob wrote:
:> A little over 4 months ago I took my '05 XLT back to the dealer I
:> bought it used from because the right rear brake was occaisionally
:> dragging while starting out or very slowly creeping in traffic or at a
:> stop light. They said they did not find anything wrong and replaced
:> both rear pads and rotors.
:>
:
:Sounds like you've zeroed in on the right rear. I was initially
:thinking it might be the parking brake, which is a separate drum brake
:inside the rotor. The rotor is shaped like a hat, with the brim being
:the disc brake, and the head portion of the "hat" being the drum. But
:you say you don't use the parking brake, so it doesn't seem likely to
:be the cause.
:
:Well, they replaced everything except the part I would suspect- the
:caliper. If that is sticking, it could cause your problem.
:-Paul

Thanks Paul. You did not include it but in my original message I go on
to say that I took it back to the dealer last week and they did replace
the right rear caliper this time. But since then I have heard the
dragging on at least 3 occasions, each time when the car has not been
driven for a while, such as first thing in the morning, and the
dragging noise stops as soon as I get above about 5-10 mph.

Bob wrote:
>
> Thanks Paul. You did not include it but in my original message I go on
> to say that I took it back to the dealer last week and they did replace
> the right rear caliper this time. But since then I have heard the
> dragging on at least 3 occasions, each time when the car has not been
> driven for a while, such as first thing in the morning, and the
> dragging noise stops as soon as I get above about 5-10 mph.

Oh, sorry, I missed the bit about replacing the caliper too. So that
was essentially everything EXCEPT the parking brake. You could try
this- pull away slowly and push the parking brake on a bit while
listening to the dragging noise, then release the parking brake. See if
that makes the sound change. From that you should be able to get some
idea if it is the parking brake dragging. Each parking brake has a
star wheel to adjust it which is accessed thru a hole in the backing
plate, possibly the right one is too tight. When you have them worked
on again, the mechanic could also jack it up and rotate the wheel by
hand, listening for the dragging noise and zero in on the cause that
way.

This is a strange one.
-Paul

If I might be so bold as to make a suggestion....

I get the feeling that you are going to the dealer and stating that you have
a dragging brake concern when, in fact, you really have a noise concern....

Modern people are basically lazy... when unsupervised, they can be
tremendously slothful. Acting on your complaint of a dragging brake, I'll
bet that nobody has verified the complaint... it is much easier to keep
fixing things that very well may not be broken.

The best thing is to state what your concern is rather than your impression
of what the cause is... Include any information that will allow the tech to
recreate the concern consistantly and easily. After all, the idea is to get
the truck fixed in a timely fashion.....

In article <xKy6h.6290$gy2.284@edtnps90>,
Jim Warman > wrote:
:If I might be so bold as to make a suggestion....
:
:I get the feeling that you are going to the dealer and stating that you have
:a dragging brake concern when, in fact, you really have a noise concern....
:
:Modern people are basically lazy... when unsupervised, they can be
:tremendously slothful. Acting on your complaint of a dragging brake, I'll
:bet that nobody has verified the complaint... it is much easier to keep
:fixing things that very well may not be broken.
:
:The best thing is to state what your concern is rather than your impression
f what the cause is... Include any information that will allow the tech to
:recreate the concern consistantly and easily. After all, the idea is to get
:the truck fixed in a timely fashion.....

I appreciate the suggestion Jim. However, in both the cases of my
going back to the dealer, they have observed that the pads and rotors
were in fact burnt/worn abnormally, and in my own experiences, I have
smelled "brakes" on numerous occaisions after a drive, and on at least
two occasions I have seen smoke coming from the questionable wheel
after applying the brakes. To me, that is pretty good evidence that
the problem lies in the brake area somewhere. Also, the dragging,
historically, with the exception of the past few days, has not been
very predictable. If the problem persists and is predictable, then
sure, I will take it back to them and do as you suggest, otherwise I'm
afraid they will not experience it themselves in a reasonable amount of
time and I cannot afford to be without a car for more than a couple
days.

Bob:

I have not followed all of your posts on this, but has the dealer replaced
or at least checked the right rear brake hose? I have seen hoses swell on
the inside while looking normal on the outside. The swollen hose keeps
brake fluid pressure from returning to normal, thus causing the brakes to
drag on the affected wheel.

Steve F.

sf/gf wrote:
> Bob:
>
> I have not followed all of your posts on this, but has the dealer replaced
> or at least checked the right rear brake hose? I have seen hoses swell on
> the inside while looking normal on the outside. The swollen hose keeps
> brake fluid pressure from returning to normal, thus causing the brakes to
> drag on the affected wheel.

That sort of thing would be consistent with the symptoms. Or say a
kinked hose, or dented in rigid brake line- the high pressure in the
line during braking would force its way thru to the caliper, but maybe
some residual pressure would remain when the pedal is released, keeping
the piston in the caliper pressing the brake pad against the disc.

So the lines from the right rear to where they join with the left rear
should be inspected inch by inch.

-Paul