Hey all.

I've searched and searched for this and found nothing.

Oddly enough, I remember reading about it somewhere and cannot find it.

When it's cold out, and I mean COLD like freezing weather, I go out and start up my 02 FX4 5 speed, then pull forward and the first few times I hit the brakes, I can feel the rear brakes completely lock up at the slightest touch of the pedal.

After I drive a few miles, completely normal operation.

Am I crazy or is this documented already?

Thanks,
RJ

 

Mine used to do it alot... I think maybe it gets water/moisture in there that freezes up until everything gets moving and warms up. I haven't had it happen since putting the bigger tires on though, could be the larger size is harder to lock up?

 

I think this is a common problem with Fords. We had a company pick up years ago that was a 93 F150 and it would do this all the time. The very first time you'd drive it after sitting it would just about throw you through the window with the slightest touch of the brake pedal. Its a very common problem on Fords, and there wasn't any real clear cut solution that I've read of. My Ranger even did it a time or two. I'm hoping that my F150 with 4 wheel discs will never do it.

 

Well, if converting to 4 wheel discs didn't mean an axle swap, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Otherwise, there has got to be a reason this happens.

 

You can add rear discs without an axle swap...

 

convert to DOT 6 silicone brake fluid my friend

then you will have no more rear drum brake locking up issues

 

Cheeseman strikes again. I just did my rear brakes, switch to Napa premium shoes and rotors, no more locking up, no more anything. They work like normal. I've done this for 1 other truck and solved his issues also.

 

Also once it gets below freezing dont use your e-brake. They love to get frozen stuck.

 

mine does this too. i would think if you didn't use your ebrake cable all the time then yea it could freeze up on you but if you constantly move it around, then you shouldn't have an issue.

 

My froze this winter once so bad I had to use 4wd to break it loose lol.

 

I heard it was moisture being absorbed by the OEM spec brake shoes and expanding. There was a recall I believe.

 

Wow holy cripes. I didn't expect to see so many replies.

Yeah I'm using cheapo OEM Advance Auto shoes, original drum, and OEM springs/hardware.

Brake fluid is Wearever Gold.

I do, however, use my Ebrake every time I park.

I really don't want to do another brake overhaul so soon after the one I just did last summer.

If I have time, and that's a BIG if, I'll put in that Dot 6 stuff that cheese man is referring to.

Thanks for the all the suggestions guys.

 

Keep in mind if you want to switch to DOT 5 or other silicone based brake fluid, that you must COMPLETELY flush out your entire brake system. You cannot mix DOT 3/4 mineral-based fluid with silicone based DOT 5.

I just use whatever brand DOT 3 brake fluid I get my hands on, I don't worry about it. I flush the brake fluid every 4-5 years or so.

 

the biggest and most important reason they lock up is the wheel cylinders. rangers have had issues with them i know i am now. best option is to convert over to disks and save yourself the hassle in the long run.

 

silicone brake fluid does not absorb water

it also lubricates the caliper and rear drum cylinders

so no worries about your brakes freezing solid

you also have more control regarding how much pressure the pads are clamping on the rotor

 

I don't think the fluid has anything to do with his rear brakes locking up upon brake application. It's the relationship between the shoe material and drums.

 

my truck does this but its usually moisture inside the drums.. or mud... or lil rock chips.... or any dirt inside the drum. if very cold weather probably it retains moisture or "ice" and thats what makes the drum to lock just as it happens to me with mud.. although i have to clean them u just need to get them warm :S

do a disc brake upgrade on the rear and ull be fine and with a 10x better breaks

 

I just recently had this problem fixed. It was moisture that was being absorbed by the cheap shoes. All I did was replace the shoes with good ones and that totally fixed the problem. Ford put out a service bulletin about it.

 

Also you cannot use DOT 5 brake fluid on ABS systems.

 

Mine did this as well and I just pulled them apart cleaned and lightly sanded the shoes and it went away and hasn't come back yet but we will see. There sure was alot of crap in them.

 

Funny, I always thought it was cold fluid, thickening in the cold temps and the rear cylinder reacting faster to thick fluid than the front discs, learn something new all the time…


Things to do list:
1) All the other stuff
2) Replace Brakes
3) Some more of the other stuff

Thks for the info.

 

Tell that to the Germans.

 

gee that`s funny?
i used dot 6 silicone brake fluid in my 05 ranger , i never had any ABS issues
actually i had way more control over caliper clamping pressure on the rotors than i did with any petroleum based brake fluid ( even in deep cold temperatures )

 

Its not a specific fluid issue. its like a cylinder/ fluid type thing. whenever they get wet, or moisture gets in them (especially stock) they lock up. Change over your cylinders and shoes and it will go away.
Mine used to do it all the time untill i changed everything. the only time they've locked up after that was when i had it sunk to the back axle in mud (combo of rain/melting snow/ sitting out back for a few days) mud got all inside there and made it a hassle to move.

 

Did you verify you had more clamping pressure with a force gauge? Call me when you do this