1998 Ford Windstar 3.0 van.

I need a little help diagnosing so I can proceed in a cost effective manner.

After in town driving for for 1/2 hour or more, my passenger side front wheel begins to heat up severely (partially melted the hubcap). It also begins to "grab" as if the emergency brake is on. when it cools off, it seems to rolls normally. I am nearing not hearing any obvious bad bearing noises when it is cool.

It seems like an obvious bad wheel bearing issue, right? Before I take it in to a shop to replace the bearing and the hub, I want to explore if it could be a faulty caliper that might seize when it heats up.(something I can fix easily myself)

What can I look for to help diagnose? When it is cool with the wheel removed I see no obvious issues with the brake pads/caliper, but that is not to say it doesn't act differently when super hot.

Thanks for any thoughts,

 

That does not sound like a wheel bearing going out at all (even though it might be going out) it sounds more like a collapsing brake hose and/or dragging caliper. I would get that fixed before the heat does destroy the hub or you loose your braking ability.

 

After digging further, I found that the brake pads on that side were completely breaking down--falling apart due to excessive heat. it must be the brake caliper seizing up. I am going to replace the front brakes, caliper and have the rotor re-surfaced or replaced, as well. I will go ahead and replace the brake hose on that side as well.

 

Other possibility is really old brake fluid boiling at too low of temperature, causing caliper to activate. That's happened to me before, and I think it was on the right front caliper of my Aerostar, which also has a front drivetrain as it's 4wd.