Recently I purchased a 1980 F-100 Ranger XLT, flare-side, short box, 2 wheel drive, powered by a 351 modified and C6 automatic transmission, and equipped with factory power steering and power brakes, no air conditioning.

The vehicle has approximately 100,000 original miles on the odometer, appears to have been well maintained, and has many aftermarket accessories that enhance its looks as well as its function.

The vehicle had been sitting in a farmer's field since 1995, and hadn't been touched once in that 7 year period of time.

It started with little persuation, everything worked except the fuel gauge and she ran beautifully except for a persistent high idle. Near new rubber, brakes stopped straight and smooth, quiet exhaust system, etc. A delight to drive !

However, the first time I drove her to work I got caught in heavy, SLOW moving rush hour traffic. The high idle and slow movement meant a lot of soft brake work, and after many miles of this, the front wheels developed some rolling resistance, and before long the vehicle was almost brought to a standstill and required 3/4+ throttle to inch over a bridge at 10 MPH !

The front brakes had overheated and were binding. After helping them cool a little (now late for work and in a hurry....) by applying water with a service station hose for 30 minutes, I managed to get rolling again without any further overheating or other brake problems.

Until Friday en route home in light rush hour traffic. Well into the 20 mile drive, and without much warning, the front end began to shimmy and it felt like the tires were way out of balance. I pulled over and the vehicle stopped all by herself.

Getting her to move again was difficult, but after sufficient cooling time (just less than 30 minutes), off we went as though nothing had happened.

I tend to drive aggressively and much faster than the 65 MPH highway speed limit. In 40 years of driving, I have not caused or been involved in a single accident. I am not hard on the vehicles I drive, experiencing few repairs, and parts that wear out evenly and slowly etc.

Why would the brakes overheat only sometimes and not at other times even when some longer duration, more extreme braking occurences are involved ?

Its only happened twice in a month or so, and 650 miles of driving separates the two front brake seizure incidents. There is no apparent residual damage to the rotor, pads or anything else.

Baffles me. Can anyone help troubleshoot this problem ?

Thanks in advance for your ideas and input.

JT

 

i'd say the caliper slides are all rusted up

those older slide pins with the leaf type spring are sorta crapy

maybe the rotors are rusted up from it sitting so long


sounds like you need a front brake job