It froze here last night (it's still under 30 degrees today) and today when I tried to drive my car (after scraping off a ton of ice) my brakes were locked up. I could drive the car, but if I let off the gas the car would just stop. I never got the car over 20mph and just drove it around my apt complex. When I pulled back into my spot there was a nasty smell that was obviously from the brakes. What's the deal? Will this go away when it warms up a little? The brake pedal is very stiff which makes me think the brake lines are frozen solid. Any help would be appreciated. My ABS light is also on.

 

Sorry man, don't have the answer to that, but I have a problem similar to that.
Only that the brakes don't grip when I first start up the car in the morning. They get really stiff and it's very hard to press down for the car to stop. This also happens only when it get's really cold out.
Maybe we get both are questions answered.

 

If your brake lines are frozen (meaning ice inside, not just stuck) then you have water in your brake lines and you need to bleed ou tall the fluid and replace it. If you have a tendency to check your brake fluid a lot, it will absorb moisture from the air and rust your brake lines from the inside out. If it gets warmer and your brakes are still stuck, you have frozen calipers and will need to replace them.

 

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll just have to wait until it warms up a little to check everything out.

 

Is it all your brakes or the rear only? If it's only the rear, and you use your parking brake (like you should ) is it possible the cable is frozen? It's happened to me before (not on my Max, though).

 

It seems like the rears, but it's tough to tell. Could be the parking break. I use quite frequently since i have a MT.

 

maybe some ice is impeeding your speed????
which could also speak to why your brakes are hard to press...

I had A LOT of ice build up in my car...to the point where you
could smell burning rubber (like, when you're stuck in snow)...
I simply chipped away at it for about 20 minutes, and let me tell
you, it was NOT an easy job.

So, if you can, clean out your wheel well as much as possible!

hope this helps,
FLO_BOY

 

Yep...check your parking brake cables.

Could be frozen and not releasing.