Rear left brake problem

[dsb0328]

2003 Eurovan MV - Anyone ever had an issue with the rear left brake not disengaging while driving? Happened after the first (or maybe second) time I ever used the emergency brake. While driving, you can smell the burning brake pad. Also the transmission is running really hot during that time. I'm assuming because it's working harder to push the car with the back brake still engaged. Could that be the caliper? The E brake not disengaging? (I'm not driving it like this. Just noticed it. And yes, I did release the emergency brake.) Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Abscate]

The T4 uses a caliper pivot to engage the parking brake, so it’s likely that is hanging up. Use an IR gun to check rotor temperature after a short drive, anything in the 100-150 F range is ok, hotter than that means the caliper is hanging.

You know the drill....rebuild or replace.
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.ssS!

[dsb0328]

Thank you so much for your help, Abscate. Do you think I would it be correct to assume if the rotor check got to double that temp, I might be looking at replacing the pads, hoses and rotors as well due to the heat wreaking havoc with those parts?

[Abscate]

Just inspect and see if they look melted. Heat doesn’t travel that well in air, so I would guess 95% they are ok

I’ve had many seized calipers In the salty NE but repairs never went beyond caliper pad plus rotor turning/ replacement.

300 F is nothing to a rotor. Hoses and pads should be fine.
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[ocelotpotpie]

Agreed - sometimes calipers get seized up, but rarely do you need to do anything other than replace the caliper and pad. If the rotors are cheap enough I sometimes do both sides while I'm in there.

But when the caliper get stuck or seized it'll wear the pads unevenly. If you're in the middle of a desert and broke you can unstick or replace the caliper and get the car home, but you should do the pad(s) and sort the rotor(s) when you get home.

[dsb0328]

Thank you both for your replies. I had no idea these were such an issue with the T4. At least it's not a real expensive issue, I guess.

[ocelotpotpie]

For what it's worth I don't think it's a major common failure point on the T4s.

VW/Audi rear calipers do sometimes seize a bit over time because of the way the emergency brake mechanism works. I think it depends a lot on your climate, driving conditions, maintenance, etc etc.

It's not a thing that happens to everyone but it's a thing that happens on cars sometimes.

[dsb0328]

Do you know if there is a good place to get the calipers. rotors, and pads that is fairly quickly? Or is this something that has to be ordered from overseas?