Help! I've got a hot wheel

[chrpmaster]

Well I am scratching my head (and other body parts) trying to figure out what is up with my truck.  Saturday I was taking a big load of scrap metal to the recyclers.  While driving there I noticed a funny smell (you know the one where you hope it is the guy in the car next to you).   When I stopped I noticed it again and felt the wheel covers on the front.  Sure enough the left front wheel cover was hot.  So I nursed it home and parked it.

Today I finally had time to look at it.  I took off the wheel and looked over the disk brake shoes.  Everything seemed OK.  I took off the shoes and looked everything over.  I notice one of the bushings where the bolts go through to hold on the shoes and caliper was pretty stiff.  So I removed it, wire brushed the it real well greased it up and put it back together. 

But tonight when I was taking my son to practice I noticed the smell again.  I turned around, took the truck home and swapped for the van.  When I parked it the left front wheel cover was really hot again.

Now I am wondering if I either have a crimped brake line or is the caliper bad.  I know the flexible hose going to the caliper is in good condition when I looked everything over today.  I didn't trace it back to the master cylinder to see if somehow it was damaged. 

Do calipers go bad all of a sudden?  When they go bad do the cause the brake shoe to rub and get hot? 

I had a Taurus that would crimp a rear brake line if I had too many passengers and cargo in it.  It would act the same way but I can't figure out what I could have done to the truck to cause this.  Especially on the front.

So I need advise on what to look for and the best way to diagnose this problem. 

Thanks
Andy

P.S.  I have a 2 wd 1976 C10 with 350 engine and TH350.  Wheels and tires are stock.

[eventhorizon66]

Are you sure the flexible line is OK?  What happens very commonly is the line appears fine on the outside but has deteriorated on the inside allowing a small piece of rubber to seal off the line after the brakes have been applied (causing the line to behave as though it is crimped).

[CruzByU]

I've had the same thing happen. The brake booster is strong enough to push fluid through, but the hose is collapsed and won't let it return, so the calipers don't release. The hose will look fine on the outside like the previous reply said. It is a cheap part to start with also.

[low budget]

X3
I had the same thing happen...

[jimbo]

I suppose there is no bearing noise and it spins freely when jacked up?  First thing that came to my mind was the hub/wheel bearing.

[Blazin]

X2 on the wheel bearing if the brakes are OK.

[chrpmaster]

Thanks guys for the ideas. 

I will go check/replace the flexible hose.  I did check the wheel bearing when I had it jacked up and it spins just fine.  No bearing noise or wobble.  I didn't know the flexible hose could collapse on the inside without showing on the outside. 

I may go ahead and change both lines on the front while I have it up and maybe avoid the same problem on the other side.  They are both probably original and I had to replace the brake lines to the rear when I got it.

I'll let you know what happens.

Andy

[jimbo]

good luck

[chrpmaster]

Well replacing the flexible hose was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I had planned on maybe an hour and it ended up taking over 4 hours!

Don't you love working on old rusty trucks.  It took lots of patience to get the hard brake line to come loose without twisting then it was a real pita getting the bolt that holds the hose bracket off.  I ended up cutting it off and pounding out the remnants. 

But it was great when I finally got it all put back together (and tightened enough to stop leaking).  My 11 year old son was a great help as usual bleeding the brakes.  After several highway miles it was working great.  No dragging or heating up of the brakes anymore.

I originally thought I would do both sides but after having this much fun on the drivers side I gave up and started drinking.  Needless to say I am feeling muuuch better now.

[eventhorizon66]

Glad to hear you got that knocked out.

[VileZambonie]

Get the other side soaking in penetrating oil and replace that side too when you have the time.

[Captkaos]

I agree, I would much rather do them both close to the same time as they are both just as old. It is just a matter of time before you have to do it.  Plan ahead now.

[chrpmaster]

I agree that I  need to tackle the other side soon.  Good idea Vile to hit with PB blaster several times before I take a wack at it.  I might also invest in a brake line wrench

Andy