cold brakes? [Expired Topic]

3601 Views 17 Replies 4 Participants Last post by ChevyFan, Feb 28, 2006

Taggart

Discussion Starter · Jan 23, 2006

My rig is parked outside in temps below 15 f this time of year and rig is only driven 2-3 times a week for a very short time. My parking brake is always set in this situation. I let the rig run a little to warm up tranny, etc. but when I release brake and step on the go pedal, the brake seems to be frozen...then releases with a "pop" only after a fairly hefty load on the accelerator. Anyone else enjoy this phenomenon? Is it normal? Any idea what causes this or what the ramifications can be? Thanks.

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ChevyFan

· #2 · Jan 23, 2006

Never had that problem, but I'll throw my $.02 in.

Probably some condensation around your brake line to your parking brake foot level. It's probably not releasing as it's frozen. I would think that getting it lubed would help out a bit as it's probably not releasing. What does everything think about that possibility?

Taggart

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 23, 2006

Good thought. I'll make sure it's well lubed next trip. Meantime, I'll take the easy out and leave the parking brake off when paarked at home for any length of time (like overnite). Not like it's going to roll away when parked in a foot and a half of snow on level ground. Just put it on out of habit...a good one, I guess.

ChevyFan

· #4 · Jan 23, 2006

Should have read, "foot lever", not "foot level".

I grew up in the northwest. Lots of hills ... shoot, lots of mountains! There is a parking brake section in the driver's ed manual. I ALWAYS put my parking break on, even down here in pancake-flat Texas! Drives my wife nuts! Where's it going to roll?

ChevyFan

· #5 · Jan 23, 2006

Should have read, "foot lever", not "foot level".

I grew up in the northwest. Lots of hills ... shoot, lots of mountains! There is a parking brake section in the driver's ed manual. I ALWAYS put my parking break on, even down here in pancake-flat Texas! Drives my wife nuts! Where's it going to roll?

Taggart

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 23, 2006

Spent a little time in the Northwest myself...Born in Walla Walla, WA. but only there in my pre-teen years and back to Whitman College. Also did a stint (7 years) in the Athletic Dept. of WSU in Pullman, much later in life. Now live at 7000' in Utah. Oh, and went to Hi school in Texas (Kingsville) and 1 year at UT (Austin) before tranferring back to the NW (Whitman) so probably have a lot of the same habits as yourself.

ChevyFan

· #7 · Jan 23, 2006

huh. I lived in Spokane 7 years, then did 1 year in the athletic dept at UIdaho in Moscow (too cold), then over to Seattle and then in Texas now for 6 1/2 years.

I think I've been in Walla Walla before, but I don't know why.

Taggart

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 23, 2006

Lived in Spokane as well..had a house out on River Road. Spent a lot of time in Albertini's and the Ridpath Hotel. Don't know why ANYONE would go to WW....most just COME from there. As a matter of fact , Batman (Adam West) came from there.

ChevyFan

· #9 · Jan 24, 2006

I'm curious if you can get your brake issue solved. Keep us up to date.

Taggart

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 24, 2006

Well, so far I have left the Pbrake off for a couple of days and used it only after I've driven the rig a half mile or so ( I do this once a day, just to cart my dogs to the end of the road for a hike) and no problems at all. It has been around zero last couple of nights. I expect your theory on condensation may be right on. I 'll get things checked next oil change..see what's there. This may be a couple of months, tho...that's when my next trailer haul is planned.

84fiero123

· #11 · Jan 25, 2006

Just had a thought :lol:
If you were doing some hard breaking just before you set the emergecy brake, they could be hot. Creating condensation when parking and then it freezes after you set it. I had driven threw a puddle one winter a few years back on a real nice day. That night it droped well below freezing and the rear brakes froze solid.

ChevyFan

· #12 · Jan 25, 2006

Haha! How did you get them unfrozen? Take a torch to them? That would have been a sight to see, dragging your rear tires through the snow.

84fiero123

· #13 · Jan 25, 2006

Luckily ounly one side froze, and it did unfreeze after backiing up and driveing forward a couple of times.

Aeropagus

· #14 · Feb 26, 2006

Did the breaks continue to stick? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

84fiero123

· #15 · Feb 26, 2006

Mine only did it once. It was 20 below 0 in the day time and as long as I stayed away from those fresh puddles outside the car washes its been fine.

ChevyFan

· #16 · Feb 26, 2006

How does a car wash stay in business in the winter in an area where it snows and stays freezing for months at a time?

Take a place like Spokane, WA. The Spring/Summer/Fall is very nice and plesant. However, the winters can be snowy and fairly harsh. Some years even never getting above freezing for 30 days or so.

How does a car wash survive that? Do they just shut down for the month?

84fiero123

· #17 · Feb 28, 2006

They have heated water and with all the chemicals in the sand and salt up here you dam well better hose off your vehicles or there wont be much left after a few winters.

ChevyFan

· #18 · Feb 28, 2006

Yeah, that's always something that you have to watch for, but I didn't think that heated water would be all that was necessary. I guess you have to hand dry it or get it blown dry so it doesn't ice up.

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