2003 Tacoma front brakes will not release!!

Hi. The front brakes on my 2003 Tacoma will not release sometimes. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I need to check? I've replaced the rotors and pads. Only because they were wore out. Thanks

 

Could you meanclarify how they won't release? Are you stuck on the road where you came to a complete stop? You can't move from the parked position?

Do you have to pump the breaks to build pressure for them to work?

Did you clean the rotos off with brake cleaner before the rotors were installed to remove the oil from them?

What color is your brake fluid and has it ever been changed?

When you changed the rotors, did you disconnect the brake line? If so, did you bleed your brakes? Did you cover the line and during work so nothing got into the fluid?

This sounds frustrating and a bit scary.

 

Thanks for getting back with me. I'm not broken down presently. By not releasing I mean I can stop at a stop sign and when I start to take off sometimes the the brakes are so engaged I can barely move. I'll tap on the brake pedal several times and continue to accelerate and the brakes will gradually release. What's so annoying is the problem is intermittent. I may drive for an hour pull in to get gas no problem. When I restart the.truck take off depress brakes and they won't release . When brakes do release it's a gradual process. Then it may not happen again all day. The brake lines have never been bleed. This issue has been going on for a long time, but its getting worse. I wore down my left rotor so bad I had to replace. Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks

 

Being that you said the brakes were never bled, I am guessing you didn’t crack the bleeder when you compressed the pistons in the caliper. Not knowing how tight it was to compress the pistons in the caliper such as the left side being extremely tight to compress and the right side easier there is a possibility that you have a bad caliper. I also don’t know if you lubricated the caliper slide pins to make them slide easily. From my experience, when a brake caliper gradually gets free and you can spin the wheel freely it is usually a bad brake hose internally collapsing. One way to test this is when the wheel locks up, immediately crack the bleeder and see if the wheel spins freely. If it spins freely it is a bad hose. If it stays stuck it’s in the brake caliper.. This is all assuming your hydraulic brake system components above the hose and caliper are working properly

 

Thanks you're advice is greatly appreciated!! I'm going to try your suggestions. I've dedicated my day to get this resolved!! I'll let you know the outcome. Thanks again!!

 

I have had a brake caliper seize before. As @Lefthook was alluding to, the slide pins can seize up preventing the rotors from opening. You have the hydraulic pressure to close them but not to release your brakes.
I would get a rebuild kit for your brake caliper. They are cheap and easy to do. You may need someone to help bleed brakes once that is done because you have to disconnect the brake line. Replace EVERYTHING that comes in the rebuild kit. Should take a couple hours.

Post pictures and good luck.

 

Is this both front brakes or just one??

New brake hardware lubed with Disc brake lube?

If the calipers check out look for crushed steel lines or pinched rubber hoses