Miata Mailing List: August 1996, Message #171
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   From: "Hathaway, Malcolm" 
Subject: RE: Brakes Locked
   Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 10:54:29 -0400


>...Now, after releasing the parking brake handle, the caliper still grips 
the
>rotor.  It seems as if this problem is localized to the rear driver's side
>wheel and not the other side.  The caliper sometimes gives up its hold 
after
>sitting for a while.

>This problem only occurs after the parking brake is engaged and not after
>general braking.

I had the same problem after my wife really hauled on the brake lever once, 
(her old Volvo requires this, and she was tense...).  When we drove off, she 
didn't notice the brake seemed to be dragging (she was driving).  We drove 
about 1/4 mile, and at a stop sign I had the heart-stopping excitement of 
seeing dark, nasty smoke pouring out from under my baby (ah...my vehicular 
baby..)

I poured some water on it to cool things off (although I think that can 
potentially warp the rotor) and limped it home, where more water and 
whacking the caliper with a hammer eventually loosened things up.  It was 
the driver-side rear caliper...is this significant?

Mackyboy
'90 MBRG 76K miles