I previously posted about my rear brakes locking up and smoke coming from the rear brakes. The problem went away for several days but it's back. Yesterday the car drove fine to work, on the way home after sitting 8 hours they locked up. Today it drove fine most of the day and then locked up once again. Some observations, vehicle is stock including wheels:

1) I now know they are going to lock up because the brake pedal gets very hard and just a tap is like full braking

2) days when they don't lock up the pedal travel is normal and it is easy to modulate the braking

3) the abs,traction control, and another light light up, dash reads 3 malfunctions

4) remove ignition key and re-insert , zero malfunctions

I'm getting tired of leaving my car in strange places when the brakes randomly lock, does anyone have any ideas before I cave in and take it to the shop? I have a feeling this is going to get expensive.

 

Several Things WILL cause rear brake lock up

E brake shoes worn or adjusted incorrectly

ABS pump Picking up a signal from a wheel sensor or defective ABS pump

Master Cylinder or Brake pedal adjusted incorrectly

Collasped Brake flex hoses..seen SEVERAL do this!

Have a Dealer hook up the brake system pressure gauges to the brakes to see if its a ABS/Master cylinder issue...

(IF) it turned on a ABS/ESP light you WILL have a code stored ..again have a Dealer or a Tech with a Star check codes

 

3) the abs,traction control, and another light light up, dash reads 3 malfunctions

4) remove ignition key and re-insert , zero malfunctions


2002 E55 - I had 3) happen yesterday ... no physical difference and 4) took care of it.


TR