we have a high mileage 91 accord that's in superb condition but for one frustrating brake problem. we recently had a new master cylinder installed, had the entire system flushed, calipers checked, new pads. now, when the car is driven just a few miles, the brakes tighten and don't release until after the car has sat for a while.

is this an overactive abs system? i don't hear the pump running. we've bled the master cylinder a number of times...any ideas welcome.

thanks.

 

Wow... the sounds like a serious problem!
Whoever has done the job for you, should have the answer for your problem.
Do a little shopping for the price of the "fixing", but do not leave this problem without a solution!
Good luck!!!

 

If you have to fix it yourself, I would jack up the car and see which wheel is doing it, if not all of them. If it's one wheel it could be a caliper piston sticking. If it's more than one, master cylinder or abs.

 

Just the front brakes, the rear brakes or all brakes???

This can happen from the following.
1) Caliper binds in it's slider and boils the fluid from not releasing.*
2) Brake Pedal sticks; keeping the brakes applied, until the fluid boils from not releasing.*
3) Brake hose splits (on the inside), acts as a one-way check valve keeping the effected caliper applied (pressure won't release) boiling the fluid.*
4) EBrake adjusted too tight. Causes rear shoes to overheat and expand even harder against the drums until they cool.

P

*effectively raising the internal pressure, further applying the brakes.

 

You state that you had a master cylinder installed... The proper procedure for this is to ADJUST the brake pedal pushrod.... there is a Honda special tool for this. Basically... your master cylinder has ports that allow the brake fluid to expand into the reservoir as the fluid heats up. When you press the brake pedal, these ports are covered by the master cylinder pistons, to allow normal braking. IF a master cylinder is installed, and the pushrod adjustment not checked... it can cause this problem. The pushrod is mis-adjusted.... blocking the expansion ports. As you drive, the fluid heats up, and expands... it cannot expand back into the reservoir, so it expands in the calipers... and pushes the pistons out... applying the brakes. Stop the car... let it sit for a while... the fluid cools off, and you can drive again.
Make sense?
Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the master cylinder tip. What you describe is exactly what's happening since everything else checks out. Sounds like i need to find a honda specialist with the tool you mention.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gmack &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">we have a high mileage 91 accord that's in superb condition but for one frustrating brake problem. we recently had a new master cylinder installed, had the entire system flushed, calipers checked, new pads. now, when the car is driven just a few miles, the brakes tighten and don't release until after the car has sat for a while.

is this an overactive abs system? i don't hear the pump running. we've bled the master cylinder a number of times...any ideas welcome.

thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

as stated by other people it is the brake master cylinder ,i am willing to bet they did not use a factory part, ( autozone, checker ) i have seen those cheap masters cause those problems many times , never seen it happen with honda masters and i have replaced hundreds of them,,,,,,,my advice yes u can adjust the push rod as stated but install a honda master cylinder.......,,,,if it was done not long ago i would talk to them and have them install a honda master cylinder u mught have to pay a bit extra but it will be worth it ,,,,