Rear Brakes Locked Up
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: NY
Rear Brakes Locked Up
I have a 2013 RX 350, I live on Long Island. Over the past few weeks I have taken the car to the car wash at night to get the salt off, the next morning when I get in and start the car put the car in drive the rear wheels are locked up, It appears the froze over night due to the extreme cold we have been having. I rock the car back and forth and eventually they release with a loud pop. I actually have a 10ft tire mark in my driveway. I have been told this is common on Toyotas. Any thoughts ? The car only has 10,000 miles on it and it only happens after being washed and sitting over night in very cold temps.
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 177
From: NJ
Welcome to CL, yankees152. I've had it happen a few times on my 450h. Certain wheel cleaners can do it too regardless of temperature. You can try drying them with a leaf blower or drive the RX for a while. I'll go back and forth in the driveway a few times. There's no harm done when it happens.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 787
Likes: 52
I'm guessing this only happens when the parking brake has been set while parked? If so, try not setting it next time, if you're comfortable doing so, and see if it still happens. Personally, I would be interested in knowing the answer.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 502
Likes: 11
From: New Brunswick (NB)
Parking brake is actually a small drum brake set-up mounted inside the rear disc.
A casual glance through the wheel spokes will show you the hub on the rear set is much larger diameter vs. the front.
Any water applied to the mechanisms, drum brake components, e-brake cables etc., will certainly freeze up overnight. Any water on the discs will also freeze to the pads.
Salt or no salt, try not to clean it off too much unless you can get it inside to dry off a bit before the sun goes down. Mother Nature doesn't give much when it comes to freezing water.
A casual glance through the wheel spokes will show you the hub on the rear set is much larger diameter vs. the front.
Any water applied to the mechanisms, drum brake components, e-brake cables etc., will certainly freeze up overnight. Any water on the discs will also freeze to the pads.
Salt or no salt, try not to clean it off too much unless you can get it inside to dry off a bit before the sun goes down. Mother Nature doesn't give much when it comes to freezing water.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
Woody, I rarely set my parking brake. I wash often and usually blow dry with a leaf blower and still wheels freeze on occasion.
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 2
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From: beirut
I have a 2013 RX 350, I live on Long Island. Over the past few weeks I have taken the car to the car wash at night to get the salt off, the next morning when I get in and start the car put the car in drive the rear wheels are locked up, It appears the froze over night due to the extreme cold we have been having. I rock the car back and forth and eventually they release with a loud pop. I actually have a 10ft tire mark in my driveway. I have been told this is common on Toyotas. Any thoughts ? The car only has 10,000 miles on it and it only happens after being washed and sitting over night in very cold temps.
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Brett Foote
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,576
Likes: 1,393
From: Austin, TX
If not then some disassembly will be required. Penetrant on key locations can help free up things, but remember that if there is not enough play the drum will not come off easily. I would get a mobile mechanic.
Salim
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: beirut
If the temp is below freezing, it could be just iced up. Just allow temp to warm up or use heat lamp(s) to warm things up.
If not then some disassembly will be required. Penetrant on key locations can help free up things, but remember that if there is not enough play the drum will not come off easily. I would get a mobile mechanic.
Salim
If not then some disassembly will be required. Penetrant on key locations can help free up things, but remember that if there is not enough play the drum will not come off easily. I would get a mobile mechanic.
Salim
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 129
Likes: 17
From: Ontario
Oh man. I had all four lock up after coming back to my RX450h that was parked for a week at the airport lot last April. Parking brake was not used. I **** my pants. Patience and rocking got them all popped eventually.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Frozen Rear Brake(s)
New to this forum. Washed and parked my 2012 RX450H in cool garage for 10 days. (MN... cool, not cold). Today both rears were locked up. Tried heat guns in case they were frozen. LR broke free, RR did not. Any ideas or directions?
CL Community Team
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,209
Likes: 1,735
From: VA
Move the car and it should free up quickly. If not then you may have to inspect it and see if the guide pins are frozen (most likely) or the caliper piston itself. I have had frozen guide pins in my hybrid due to lazy maintenance on my part. They need to be removed,cleaned and regreased every couple years or 20,000 miles or they do get stuck in the caliper bracked. I have had them stuck so bad I had to replace the caliper body, but often they can be forced out..
If yours are stuck, and you can do the work, the cheapest alternative is to buy a used caliper, then just use the body to replace yours, doing such maintenance on its guide pins etc. Save the piston assembly for another day if not needed. Or if needed, replace everything.
Was the parking brake on? If so you have different issues.
If yours are stuck, and you can do the work, the cheapest alternative is to buy a used caliper, then just use the body to replace yours, doing such maintenance on its guide pins etc. Save the piston assembly for another day if not needed. Or if needed, replace everything.
Was the parking brake on? If so you have different issues.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,576
Likes: 1,393
From: Austin, TX
There can be ice or rust or both.
For ice, just put a heater around {or even an old heat generating light bulb .. will take longer) but that should raise the temperature to melt the ice [no electrical stuff right below to prevent water dripping on it].
Rust on the other hand is a slow long process and each time you have moisture or salts you get metal reverting to its natural form and things swell up causing binding.
If I was to guess, it is ice. As a habit, after wash, please drive the vehicle a bit to rid yourself of water. When the temperature warms up (summer for you) remove the wheel and even the rotor to see where you are with rust.
Salim
For ice, just put a heater around {or even an old heat generating light bulb .. will take longer) but that should raise the temperature to melt the ice [no electrical stuff right below to prevent water dripping on it].
Rust on the other hand is a slow long process and each time you have moisture or salts you get metal reverting to its natural form and things swell up causing binding.
If I was to guess, it is ice. As a habit, after wash, please drive the vehicle a bit to rid yourself of water. When the temperature warms up (summer for you) remove the wheel and even the rotor to see where you are with rust.
Salim
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: WI
Same thing just happened to me .... washed my car 2 weeks ago and put my 2012 RX450h in my storage unit for 2 weeks. Came back tonight to start her up and take for a spin and the LR wheel is completely locked up. I rocked it back n forth for about 15 mins hoping it would “pop” and begin to rotate normally. It’s 43 degrees and hasn’t been below freezing in at least 2 day’s.
Any ideas? I seriously doubt that freezing is the issue given current temps. Do I need to call AAA mechanic to take a look? Could I have done major damage to the brake / inner wheel components?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Any ideas? I seriously doubt that freezing is the issue given current temps. Do I need to call AAA mechanic to take a look? Could I have done major damage to the brake / inner wheel components?
Thanks in advance for the help!