Smoking Brakes

[annlaurie51]

We have a 2011 32' Breeze, and encountered a difficulty today. We were moving the coach to our storage shed, got about 15 miles from home, and the brakes started to stick. It smelled awful and there was some smoke. Discovered that the brakes would not disengage unless the driver hit them twice. We got to the storage shed but now need to get it to the dealer.

This may possibly have happened once before -- we had our toad brakes lock up about a month ago after an emergency (see below) and now I wonder if that was because the rv was telling the brakes to stay on. We have not been able to replicate this with the toad.

Possible issues -- (1) it was a cold night here and we wonder if the brake line might have frozen; and/or (2) we had an incident just prior to the toad lock-up where the towing pin sheared off and the toad and the rv separated. We had to depend on the safety chains to hold us together until we could get stopped. We assumed this was the problem with the subsequent toad brake lock-up but now I'm not sure.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Anything we should suggest to our mechanic when we can get the coach to the dealer?

Many thanks. My nerves are shot!!

[ralphie]

If it's an F53 chassis, the front calipers are famous for not releasing. It's a fairly simple fix using Ford's special sauce on the caliper retaining pins.

[BFlinn181]

Brake fluid doesn't freeze, only water in the lines could freeze, which is doubtful in a vehicle less than 2 years old. Brake calipers need to be removed and lubricated, if not rebuilt. Sitting for long periods can allow rust to hang up the calipers from releasing.
What are you towing? Breaking a hitch pin is unusual. Did you have a breakaway switch and was it tripped when the hitch broke? You need the whole towing system checked out, tow bar, base plate, and auxiliary brake system in the toad.

[Dennis Edwards]

Breeze does not have hydraulic brakes, it has air brakes.
If air dryer/filter needs changing, might have moisture in air lines.
Release some air at the tank and see if much moisture escapes.