Help 87 B2 Brake problems

[buzz88]

My 87 B2 Is burning up the front brakes. If I drive for about 20-30 of regular driving the hubs start to heat up to the point where if you touch the hhubs they are super hot and if I drive too much to the point of smoking and freezing. I have auto locking hubs and the 4 x 4 Low engages but not hi. Not sure if this has anything to do with it. Took to my local mechanic who didn’t seem to have an explanation other than sometimes they freeze up. He replaced the pads but it is still seems to be appening as I can smell them burning. Any thoughts much appreciated?

 

[adsm08]

This can easily be caused by bad calipers, bad lines, and less likely, but still possible, the master cylinder.

Given the age of the vehicle, and the heat cycles it has all been through I think I'd do calipers, rubbers, pads, and rotors.

You can test to see if a caliper is hanging, or if a line is collapsed. If you can't compress the caliper open the bleeder. If it will go in easy it is the line, if it is still hard its the caliper.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I agree with everything adsm said. I will also add that if you had the hubs to the point of smoking... I would take a hard look at the wheel bearings/bearing races also. Chances are they will be discolored from getting hot and may even show signs of metal transfer due to the heat.

 

[buzz88]

Thanks very much for the responses and input. Much appreciated I recall having the issue on my 88 about 20 years ago and it melted the man locking hub. This time I had the brakes bled and rotors and pads done but still having the issue. Thanks guys.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My 2wd ranger was doing this exactly.

I thuught it was a wheel bearing getting hot.

Turned out to be the caliper.

But fair warning, dont expect it to just be a caliper change. I did and ended up re brake lining the whole front end along with hoses.

Just cause it wouldnt come apart.

 

[Sweet-85']

I agree with everything adsm said. I will also add that if you had the hubs to the point of smoking... I would take a hard look at the wheel bearings/bearing races also. Chances are they will be discolored from getting hot and may even show signs of metal transfer due to the heat.

I also say, look at the wheel bearings, my 85 did exactly what you're describing years ago. Does it pull to one side? Mine was a wasted wheel bearing, the bearing was toast, and it made the hub super hot, and transferred some heat to the rotors too since their part of the assembly on these trucks.

 

[4x4prepper]

You can try getting the older calipers with metal pistons instead of the newer ones with plastic. The plastic ones always seemed to hang. The aftermarket may be all metal now, I have not bought one in a while.

 

[buzz88]

Thanks again for all the input, When I first got the B2 yes it was heating up after about a half hour of driving and was seizing up, not necessarily pulling to one side but almost felt like losing power and rpms were running high and then would start smoking. Had the pads, rotors and calipers done/replaced but still happening but not necessarily all the time. Thinking maybe the bearings, lines or master cylinder as suggested just because pads, rotors, calipers were replaced.