Right front tire locking up

[Steve Firebird]

Hello I am looking for some input on a problem with my brakes. When I apply the brake the front right tire locks up. When I let up on the pedal it releases and seems fine. I am going to get the car on the hoist this week end and inspect the caliper area. My son and I both thought we heard a slight metallic rattling noise for a few seconds about ten miles before the problem stated. The brakes are factory disc brakes off a 74 nova. I have 5000 miles on the set up and about 1000 miles on them since I had them apart and cleaned, paint everything and replaced the calipers. I am thinking a bolt came loose and is allowing the caliper to twist and grab the rotor. Thank goodness it happened at a low speed coming up to a stop light with no one around. I was driving about 60 mph in the rain just before and it could have been bad. Let me know if you have any ideas or things I should check out while looking for the problem.

[Steve Firebird]

I feel sick. At least no one was hurt. The other side was loose as well.

[Apogee]

Steve, glad you and everyone around you are okay. That could've been much worse...just be thankful that there's nothing on a car that can't be fixed/replaced/upgraded/etc. Those pics are a good reminder to all of us who regularly modify and repair our own vehicles. Check those critical torques and check them often.

Tobin
KORE3

[MonzaRacer]

Actually use red lock tite on caliper brackets. As for the wheel if it doesnt loose air and isnt too deep run it, I had an old outlaw II that hit a gaurde rail and had a small hole in it but wasnt bent, had it welded and tada fine, now I would use my Durafix welding rods, heck you could fill that wheel all around with the Durafix rods and smooth it out.

[Steve Firebird]

yes I realize I was very lucky. The rim is not hurt much at all. I did figure out the caliper bracket is bent so i have a new one on the way. Thanks Steve

[chevy42083]

EEK. Glad it turned out alright.
My brother was following a lifted jeep with big wheels when the caliper fell OFF... was dangling under by the lines. He got up next to him, started yelling, and the guys face went WHITE when he must've tried the brakes. Started grabbing gears, and used the ebrake to slow it down... both yours and his situations could've gone real bad real fast.

[Steve Firebird]

I am amazed more stuff like that does not happen. I did ask the shop that did the front end alignment to check everything when they did the alignment but I guess they missed it. I was just out in the shop working on it. The caliper bracket did not show up so I bent the old one back and it seems OK now. I may take it out for a test run to see if it all works OK tomorrow. I checked the other side and they were way under specification also so now they are all torqued down. I think I am going to recheck everything under the car and dab it with a paint stick so I know it’s been checked. Steve