Everytime its <32 degrees outside and i leave my car with handbrake on, it freezes. When i come back, i can release the brake, but the handle is loose. i can move it up and down with almost no friction. Also my rear wheels slow down the car a lot. sometimes it even locks the wheels. i have to drive for few miles before the break gets "released".
and like i said, it happens Every night, or everytime i don't use a car for 4 hrs+ ( with temp below 32)

any ideas where to start? I don't have any problems with the brake in the summer

 

I have had the same issue with my Jetta, not on my Maxima and it is something that you should avoid using until you get it looked at/fixed. The problem with the Jetta was that the rear brake caliper was not sliding in and out - it was sticking and I think that has led to the warped rotor on that rear right-hand side. Or rather, the fact that the brake was sticking and would not release for sometimes a few miles and I was driving on it anyway led to the warped rotor.

When you pull the handbrake after coming out after a sub-32 night and you feel no resistance - the e-brake is still on. Driving with it you will probably feel like the car is working extra hard and not moving like it should - because it is - the brake is on.

I'd get someone you trust to look at the brakes. I have a local guy here that now does my brakes and he is about 1/4th the cost of going to a garage and probably 1/6 as expensive as the dealership. If you cannot get it checked out soon, but still need to warm up the car in the morning (and you don't park on a hill) - then get a chock block and don't use the handbrake. Put the triangular shaped chock block behind the front wheel on the drivers side. When you get in roll ahead and pull the chock block out from behind the rear wheel with your foot on the brake - it helps to have a block with a stout piece of rope out the back of it.

I'd really suggest you get it looked at though - maybe the caliper is not working right when you are braking normally in everyday driving. Visually check the rotors to see if you have one where there is rust or uneven wear - a sign that the brakes are not working as intended.

Good luck,

Pete

 

check the break release system and also the calipers in the rear, they might need some lubrication.....as well as the brake cable

 

OMG, i go on the ORG to post this Quiestion and its the first thread, anyways i have the same problem its very loose, Also there is a foul smell comming from my car but not from the brakes, yet i wasint driving on my Handbrake weird?

 

My mechanic told me not to use the handbrake in the winter. The cable and the lines are metal and freeze up in the cold. They release once the car warms up, but if it doesn't it's like driving around with the handbrakes on.

 

I always use handbrake in the winter, but only last year and this year i have this problem, and have no clue where to statrt. i don't want to leave in in the shop, cause i usually do everything myself...

what's that break release system?
and what should i lubricate calipers with? any grease? ;-)

 

at my shop(nissan of T.ville) we see alot of 4th and 5th gens comming in with frozen calipers or calipers that will seize at random times. not really seizing if they release, but they do lock up occasionally. our solution is just to bleed a full bottle of fluid through the system, if the problem persists, we change the calipers out.

 

Yep, I just experienced this too. Let the hand brake down and it was just way too soft. So I played with it, moved it up and down a few times, and it was fine. I guess I won't be using the handbrake in the winter, either.

 

I always use handbrake in the winter. Never had a problem. you may have water in the cable.

 

dont use the handbrake then ....instead just put a HUGE cinder-block against the wheel so it doesnt slide or something...that would be my solution..or i would just park it in my two car garage

 

You know with all the <32 day's in So Cal

 

I've had the same problem too. Flushed the system and had one caliper replaced, but it still occurs. Might be time for new cables.

 

perhaps u have some water in ur brake system? no good it'll freeeeeze. bleed ur system. very simple, but might need someone to depress brake pedal for u. pump brakes slowly for 3 times, then hold. next, unscrew bleeder valve; should be easy to find on caliper. then tighten, and release brake. repeat until u get nice full squirts =)

 

My cable broke one winter and I had to drive to the mechanic with my ebrake on. Had to replace the pads, luckly not the rotors. It totally sucked ***.