Front brakes seized after wash

How a 5 minute car wash can cause two pieces of metal to "normally" stick together preventing the truck from moving forward is beyond me, but I'll let the experts continue to say "I've seen it happen elsewhere, it's normal." I know damn well that if a car wash disabled my truck, id be on the phone with the dealer and opening a case with Toyota.

And no, I've had my diff replaced once already and it still howls, in fact if you look at the videos in the howling differential thread, there is a good chance I filmed it.

 

This was front caliper, and it wasn't seized due to chemical reaction, this was mechanical/electrical glitch

 

I've had my m3 for 11 years now, not once have i taken it to mechanic, and I've done subframe reinforcements to vanos/sprocket bolt rebuilds, if anyone knows those cars knows it's no small feat.
With that's said, I'm guessing dealer will send me in my way with their "it's normal" catchphrase.
If I have the time and I say that because my wife is overdue since the 9th and could pop any minute, I'll take a look myself.

 

My point is just because it hasn't happen to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Obviously it is possible as it happens all the time.

 

Also, it doesn't disable it, you just drive forward it will pop and break free

 

To add, after brakes released, I went for a drive, as I was coming down the hill to the stop sign, my steering wheels violently shook/and brake pedal travel seemed funky, scrared the crap out of me and my wife. Eventually it smoothed out.

 

Ya think one pad was still stuck?

 

Are you 3rd gen? Don't they have issues with hill assist or whatever making crazy noises and shaking?

 

So not only did it not move after washing it, but afterwards you still had an issue. Driving around with a pregnant wife, I would of just called roadside and had it towed. No sense in taking a risk like. Obviously something isn't right

 

I washed mine friday and had a slight sticking after.
At first I thought it was something with my truck like transmission or something cause it clunked so hard after putting it in gear at first I thought it was the transmission clunking into gear but then rememebred seeing this in another thread not long ago and figured it was the same.

Never had it happen to any other cars, but I usually would take it for a drive around my block right after a wash on all other vehicles cause I'd see a tiny bit of rust on the rotors, so I'd drive to clean it off.

Probably would help this as well. Just take a little drive around the block to clean the brakes and also help dry them up a bit better.

 

I'm not sure, like a said the second it let go I felt it disengage, I'm not sure what caused the vibration. Maybe when the brakes were holding, pads left deposits on the rotor given that I tried accelerating numerous times, I'm not sure. I doubt I'll be able to find what caused this anomaly, I will try rinsing front brakes again to see what happens

 

At the risk of offending the soft, I'll add that when my brakes "stuck" and broke free, there was a vibration for about 5 miles.

 

This sounds to me like the ABS fired. Did you notice any strange sound? Usually the solenoid going off makes a pretty loud "GRRRRRUNCH!" noise that's coming from under the hood. (yeah, real specific with the noises, I'm sorry.)

I've had slightly "sticking" calipers on some of my other cars, a stuck caliper can make an alarming pop when it finally lets go, but I've only had that happen when it was wet and monstrously cold. It shouldn't hold it back that much, for me it was always more of a "by the time you notice the car is sticking it's gathered enough torque to pop it loose" kinda deal.

 

No noises associated with abs. no exaggeration on my part when I say it took 5 minutes to get going and that the rears spun. It shouldn't take that much force to break free if the brakes simply seized due to moisture on the pads and rotors

 

Yes I agree, brakes can stick and they pop free and you are on your way. But what the original post looks like is worse than that. He is saying that the rear tires are spinning. No way normal sticking of the brakes from moisture causes that. Plus I guess if the rear tires are spinning, it isn't drum brakes at all. I must have missed that earlier when I started talking about drum brakes.

 

This explains so much to me.

 

Yeah I agree with you. Just talking about brakes sticking from washing in general

 

Because you can't get your head around it doesn't mean it's not a common occurrence.
First you don't understand the circumstances. This doesn't usually happen in a 5 minute rolling car wash. This happens you pull up with warm brakes, engage the ebrake, wash, then let the car sit.
Humidity and wide night day temp differential cause the metals in the brake pads to bond/corrode to the iron rotors.
This happened on 2 differing cars when I was in Northern VA which is known for its humidity.

Your welcome to get high and mighty in disbelief, but that would only be your ignorance and ego getting in the way of your learning something.

Take a spin after a car wash to minimize risk of this, the drive will dry the brakes.

 

Happy it helped you Topher.

 

Who the hell ever uses the E-brake ? I never once have in my 2008 .