brakes possibly sticking?

[Len-Dogg]

Recently I have noticed some kind of resistance, like I don't coast as well as I used to. At very slow speed I think I can even here somthing rubbing slightly that oscillates as I roll along. I am thinking one of the brake pads isn't lifting off completely and so is rubbing a little bit? What causes this and how do you fix it? Or could it be something else? I did just change from 14" to 17" tires, but that is about all that I have changed lately.
Thanks,<p>Jason

[Len-Dogg]

Well I guess I will just reply to myself. I got out of the car after driving for about 15 miles today, and the left front brakes are definitely rubbing. You could smell it, and there was even a little smoke coming off the brakes! I will be dropping the car off at the local garage tomorrow morning. That is really quite dangerous, if any of you guys feel anything like that then take it right in or you might not have any brakes left!

[type R freak]

I had something similar happen to my 92.
The car felt slugish like something was holding it back. Fronts were fine, it was the rear! The e-brake cable mechanism at the drum was frozen up and wouldnt come down when I released the e-brake handle and the drum would be hard to turn by hand. I released the mechanism with a screwdriver and freed it up. Car rolls back beautifully now..

[jpwmx3]

Your caliper seized up.

[whinypunk]

yah my e-brake cable is frozen up right now. i got new callipers and rotors for the front, but it still seems like the brakes arent great. the pedal is very low. how do i fix this now??

[Len-Dogg]

You were right my caliper did freeze up. I am getting a whole new brake assembly for both front brakes, and then I will be good for the rest of the life of the car.

[jpwmx3]

Well, if your e-brake is frozen then your rear brakes need fixing.

[Len-Dogg]

No it wasn't my back brakes, it was definitely my front ones. Actually I drove to the shop today using only the parking brake to stop at lights and such. LOL I'll be glad when it's fixed.

[cybinpro]

MX-3's eat brakes. <p>I've replaced both front calipers. pads (3 times), rotors (2), Master cylinder and bleed the system like crazy. <p>Right now back brakes are toast and the front rotors are warped--- Again!<p>When they put your wheels back on make sure the use a torque wrench.... REALLY. 99% of the time they don't use one and instead use a impact wrench. <p>Mazda even put out a service bulletin about it cause if the torque is wrong it puts pressure on the brake rotor causing it to warp. If your rotors are warped you will feel a pulsing as you stop. It's more noticably when stopping from low speeds.