Brake problem. Whats bad?

[Dark_5.0]

Ok my car pretty much only sees track time.

I installed new rotors and brake pads and everything seemed cool.

I have bled the lines so air isnt the problem. I made a pass at the track after installing the new stuff and then noticed I couldnt push my car in the staging lanes.

After I got it home and jacked up the front I found the problem. My brakes are not releasing, the pads are dragging on the front rotors. This cant be good for performance and I need to be able to push my car in the staging lane.

I am thinking that the brake booster is bad.

Any opinions?

[smokedchevy]

Did you sand and lube up the caliper bolts really well? Or the pistom could be getting stuck.

[Capri306]

Agreed. Sounds like piston damage ocurred during brake pad installation.
However, unless you had the unfortunate luck of messing up BOTH left and right pistons, it's going to take some troubleshooting to determine the problem.

First, I'd try detaching the vacuum check valve from the power brake booster, and see if the pedal rises or the front brakes release. If not, remove the calipers by their slide pins and see if the pistons are seized. You know where to go from here.

Be aware that there are a LOT of shady-engineered/machined parts out there. I've had the misfortune of having brake pads that were too thick with rotors that were too thick as well. The results were similar to your experience, but I couldn't even fit the calipers to their mounts because the components were so badly made! Lesson learned: always pay more for quality parts and the assurance that they'll work.

I'd suggest using Performance Friction carbon metallic pads if it's determined that the calipers are all right and there aren't any other factors causing lockup. They're a little bit thinner than most semi-metallic pads when new.

[91 Notchback]

I've seen alot of flex lines cause this problem, they collapse from the inside and lock up the brakes.

[Ieatcamaros]

Originally Posted by 91 Notchback

I've seen alot of flex lines cause this problem, they collapse from the inside and lock up the brakes.

Me too. This causes them to act like a check valve when they do this. In other words, they will only let fluid one way.

[grey88gt]

I agree about the brake lines. Did you let the cailpers hang down on the lines when you were working on it. Could have broken the lines down internally as the last to post said. You could have a cup hanging or sticking in the master cylinder also, not letting the fluid return.