Cold weather on the brakes

[crewwolfy]

We got some hella cold and windy weather in Chicago today. I left my mustang parked on the street with the handbrake on most of the day. Tonight, I go out for a drive, and the brakes are active. Drifting in neutral, the car comes to a stop, and rocks when it does as if the brakes are on, albeit only slightly. As I drove the car longer, this went away for the most part.

Anyone else have this problem? I'm assuming the brake fluid is thickening in the lines, and so the brakes remain slighly engaged. That's all I can think of from the cold. Any input?

 

[stangpower1]

I know that when its cold outside, the car drives faster and the brakes feel better. They feel like they are griping better. No prob like that though.

 

[SlvrBLt]

happened to me too last night coming home from work. really hard to get rolling from a stop and would hold itself still on slight grades. It also felt like the engine was under a deal more load at given speed. I just kept pumping the bakes lightly a little now and then and it worked itself loose. needless to say i wont be applying the p-brake as hard now.

 

[Finn McCool]

I doubt it's fluid, the hand brake is controled by a cable, not by the brake lines. If you take your brake caliper off one of the rear wheels you'll notice it's just a spring powered pressure plate, similar to a drum brake.

My best guess is that little inner drum just froze up and eventually thawed out from the friction heat produced by driving it like that.

 

[Black2006GT]

Just move to the south and you won't have to park on the street or freeze your brakes up!

 

[crewwolfy]

Sorry man, I'm a bears fan!

 

[05PhillyStang]

Seems like i have the same problem:

This morning was probably the first bitterly cold day in the Philly area since I bought my Mustang in March. After disengaging the parking brake, I put the vehicle into reverse (manual trans, by the way), hit the gas to back out of my driveway, and nothing. I gave it a bit more gas and the car started to roll, but the rear tires were squeaking loudly. It felt as if the parking brake was still engaged. So, I stopped, pulled up on the parking brake and re-released it, same thing.

I noticed that the parking brake handle was very light, almost as if the cable was no longer connected. In any event, I didn't drive this car to work. I'll bring it in to Ford tomorrow to see what can be done.

 

[crewwolfy]

05PhillyStang: Got an update on what Ford said?

 

[WallDiver77]

Hey!....... me too!

Here in New Mexico it got down to about 16F last night and the very same thing happened to me. I drove one block with the parking brake froze thinking that the friction heat would cause it to release. It didn't, and I drove it back to its stall and called the dealer. The Ford dealer hadn't heard of this problem. Got home from work this evening and the brake had come loose during the day sometime.

I'm repeating the same experiment tonight. If it freezes again I plan to take it to the dealer.

Keep us posted fellers........

Walldiver77

 

[WallDiver77]

22F Last night .....

It got down to a warmer 22f last night and the parking brake did NOT freeze up. Wonder where the freeze point is? Anyone gotten underneath the car to track down where the brake is freezing?

Walldiver77

 

[crewwolfy]

I don't really have an option when it comes to driving in the morning. When this initially happened, I took the car out anyway. The friction does unthaw the brake; it happens within a couple miles. Been parking in gear a lot since. Haven't had the problem for about a week, but it's been a little warmer here than those locked-brake nights.

 

[Roni]

Well it gets a heck of alot colder in Edmonton an I have had none of those problems...

 

[WallDiver77]

Roni

I'm surprised that you haven't had the brake freeze. If I engage the parking brake it will freeze every time the temp hits below 12f.

Anyone found the location of the freeze yet?

 

[Roni]

I was thinking that in Chicago it might be a bit of condensation in th E-brake cable freezing but in New Mexico its usually dry. In Edmonton when it is cold it is also very Dry.

 

[Roni]

Sorry Double post

 

[05PhillyStang]

05PhillyStang: Got an update on what Ford said?

Sorry for the late response, I've been away from the boards for a while.

I called Ford and they said that the car would have to be towed in and it would be looked at within 3-4 days. I couldn't afford to give up my car for that long.

I talked to a couple friends who also drive manual trans. They said that this is very common in cold weather. Also spoke to my mechanic and he said the same thing. Ever since, I've just been leaving the car in gear when parked. Whenever I park on an incline, I put the brake up just enough to hold the car, but still leave it in gear. I noticed that when I do that, it still sticks a little, but only for a second.

 

[WallDiver77]

Fried one rotor

Last night's low was -1f in very dry New Mexico. I didn't have enough gas in my truck to make it to work...... so had to drive my stang to work with the parking brake froze (wouldn't release). It appears that I have ruined one of the rear rotors. Yes.... it can be turned and restored. Was suprised to see that the brake only stuck on one side. I thougth (as mentioned in an earlier post) that the brake would release after enough heat was generated. Work is 15 miles away..... I'm not sure where it release but it didn't release soon enough.

I'll let you know what my dealer says when I have time to get it into them.

 

[crewwolfy]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that diver.

 

[nbk13nw]

There is a TSB on this issue if your not already aware....

 

[mpentico]

I've been having the same problem here in NC.

Not that it gets THAT cold here, but I do have to drive the car for quite awhile before the park brake releases.

I went under the car last week and lubed the cable assembly and the spring actuators on the brakes. No luck.... still freezes.

Guess I'll check the TSB report for a fix.