Q: Wheels lock up and have to cool down before driving again.

asked by on December 18, 2015

The wheels on my car lock up after driving it about 10 miles and have to cool down before the car will move again. I have had the brake system updated extensively.

Hi, If you have had a brake master cylinder or brake booster installed recently the problem may be due to the installer not adjusting the push rod on the brake booster. The push rod may be pushing on the master cylinder a little bit. This could cause the brakes to not fully release. After driving the brake fluid starts to heat up and expand putting even more pressure on the brakes until they overheat and lock up. My recommendation would be to check to see if brakes are dragging and adjust the brake booster push rod or the brake pedal linkage. The brakes now have been overheated and there could be heat damage to the rotors, pads and calipers. I have seen the brakes catch fire when badly overheated. Have a qualified technician do a complete brake inspection and diagnosis.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Rear brakes make a loud squealing noise
Brake squeal can occur on the Cruze's rear brakes due to brake dust accumulating in the drum. One thing that can be done to limit or eliminate the noise is to have the rear drums taken off, have the brake...
Car wouldn't start, electronics work
Hello there. Thanks for writing in about your 2001 Mercedes CLK430. There are a few potential causes for this. Most common would be a fuel pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement), battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-replacement), battery cable (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-cable-replacement), starter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/starter-replacement), or ignition switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-switch-replacement). Any of...
Car started making loud noise, oil changed prior to this
Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Saturn LS2. This can happen at times when the car has been sitting for a period of time. Hydraulic lifters help to operate the camshaft, which opens and closes the valves...
Engine shuts off, white smoke coming out - 2001 Toyota MR2
Hello. White smoke (steam) makes me think that this is antifreeze. Check to be sure your radiator coolant level is not dropping. If so, could have internal leak to cylinder. A misfiring cylinder is caused by mechanical problems or an...
Low oil pressure - 2000 Chevrolet S10
With the weight of the oil, 5w-30 is preferred in climates that see temps below 0 degrees, and 10w-30 for 0 degrees and above. With that said, it is not unusual to see a drop in oil pressure when the...
Floods bad when cold runs great when warms up
Hi. This problem is most likely caused by a faulty coolant temperature sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-temperature-switch-sensor-replacement), which is sending a signal to engine management that it is colder than it actually is. This causes engine management to inject more fuel than is...
Leakage near the radiator fill cap and the AC/Heater doesn't work
It sounds like you have 4 issues: Coolant leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-is-leaking-inspection) Possible issue with the water pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/water-pump-replacement) An unexplained, but transitory noise (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-making-a-noise-inspection) HVAC faults (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-is-not-working-inspection). The coolant leak is the most important one to fix first because a coolant...
Diagnostic code P0721
Hi....the best thing to do is request a diagnostic based on the trouble code, P0721 (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0721-obd-ii-trouble-code-output-speed-sensor-range-performance-by-valerie-johnston), that you have in hand. Resolve that first as the fault behind the trouble code may account for the shift difficulty you are having....
My 2015 Tahoe rides really, really rough. Any reason you think it rides rough?
Hello, There are a number of things that may cause the vehicle to ride rough such as worn out suspension components or suspension components that are improperly adjusted, worn control arm bushings or worn out ball joints. A ball joint...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're an Uber or Lyft Driver
Are Are you thinking of becoming a driver for Uber or Lyft? That could be an exciting career change – you’ll get to meet a lot of interesting people, and if you love to drive, what better way to spend...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Gardener or Landscape Architect
Gardeners Gardeners and landscape architects need to haul around quite a bit of gear. As a gardener, chances are you will need to transport a variety of mowing equipment, along with smaller implements. You may also need to move shrubs,...
Nissan Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program
If If you have been shopping for a used Nissan vehicle, you may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on...