2003 Ford Ranger Rear Brakes Stuck in Cold

I have a 2003 Ford Ranger, when it is cold the Rear Brakes are stuck.
Sometimes the truck will not move without gunning it until they break
loose. They really scream for the first few seconds then are quiet.
The dealer said when they get wet and cold the rear brakes get stuck
and they want to replace the rear brakes but they can't get the parts
until May! Once the brakes "let go" they don't make much noise but it
seems like they're engaged somewhat-like the truck doesn't roll as
freely as it usually does. Is it safe to be driving this for 2 1/2
months? Is it going to put undue wear on any other part of the truck?
It seems to me that trying to start while the brakes are locked is not
good for engine or transmission...any suggestions???


TIA

When I lived in the frozen north I had a car whose rear brakes would not release on cold mornings because moisture in the parking brake cable would freeze. The solution was simple, don't set the parking brake overnight.

specialpatrolgroup wrote:
>
> I have a 2003 Ford Ranger, when it is cold the Rear Brakes are stuck.
> Sometimes the truck will not move without gunning it until they break
> loose. They really scream for the first few seconds then are quiet.
> The dealer said when they get wet and cold the rear brakes get stuck
> and they want to replace the rear brakes but they can't get the parts
> until May! Once the brakes "let go" they don't make much noise but it
> seems like they're engaged somewhat-like the truck doesn't roll as
> freely as it usually does. Is it safe to be driving this for 2 1/2
> months? Is it going to put undue wear on any other part of the truck?
> It seems to me that trying to start while the brakes are locked is not
> good for engine or transmission...any suggestions???
>
> TIA

--
Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.

> The solution was simple, don't set the
> parking brake overnight.

Yes, this is ancient wisdom for people who live 'way up north (or have
visited a ski area, or...) and can afflict many cars.

I hate to omit this step (especially when parked on an incline), but
making a big chock out of some scrap lumber or something, or buying a
purpose-built one, might be a good Plan B.

A question for the original poster: does this have anything to do
with the parking brake, or is it a malfunction? The fact that the
dealer seems to know about a problem and is having trouble getting
parts kinda makes me wonder.

I get the impression that model year 2003 brought a change in the
Ranger's brake system, but I'm not familiar enough with the vehicle to
know just what, off the top of my head. There does seem to be a
Technical Service Bulletin out on the Ranger for rear brakes, but
details readily available to me are sketchy:
http://www.autosafety.org/dossier/pu...ER&yea r=2003

there seems to be a problem emerging with ranger rear brakes locking up
even when driving
i have seen 3 in the last 6 months in the body shop that were damaged when
the drivers skidded into the ditchs form this

specialpatrolgroup wrote:

> I have a 2003 Ford Ranger, when it is cold the Rear Brakes are stuck.
> Sometimes the truck will not move without gunning it until they break
> loose. They really scream for the first few seconds then are quiet.
> The dealer said when they get wet and cold the rear brakes get stuck
> and they want to replace the rear brakes but they can't get the parts
> until May! Once the brakes "let go" they don't make much noise but it
> seems like they're engaged somewhat-like the truck doesn't roll as
> freely as it usually does. Is it safe to be driving this for 2 1/2
> months? Is it going to put undue wear on any other part of the truck?
> It seems to me that trying to start while the brakes are locked is not
> good for engine or transmission...any suggestions???
>
> TIA