Locked up brake system

Our 2000 SR5 brakes locked up a couple of weeks ago. They were engaged continuously, and the brake petal had no play - press it and it was like you are pushing up against a brick wall. I had no time to look at it before leaving on a two-week trip. I returned home, my wife had moved it to an alternate parking spot, and the brakes are freed up - acting normally. Any opinion as to what "was" wrong? Driving it with not fixing anything makes me a bit nervous...would not want a repeat on the open road.

 

Sounds like a bad master cylinder.

 

Put it on jack stands, and pull the caliper off. Buy a rebuild kit, and rebuild the caliper yourself (rebuild kits from local dealership)

They might have gotten water contamination and started rusting...

 

I replaced brake hardware when problem first showed up. The problem went away for awhile but reappeared, and was alot worse. Posted problem to this site, and took advice to replace the master cylinder. Locking up problem went away. Another problem (gradual loosing petal over a week or two after bleeding) is haunting us now...on to another post.