I have had new rear shoes & adjusters fitted on my 95 escort as the
handbrake was taking 14 - 18 clicks to activate. After this the brakes
started binding, where both hubs were getting equally hot. At one point I
pulled the handbrake up hard & the brakes completely binded & it was a
struggle to get the car to move again (made the clutch smoke!). I found that
if I didn't use the handbrake for a few days, the binding stopped, so I
assumed the handbrake cable must be seized. Took it to another garage today
who replaced the cable. The handbrake lever feels much better now, but the
rear brakes are still getting hot. i slackened off the cable has the garage
had set the max clicks to 3, & ford recommend 6, didn't help though. The
front brakes also bind a little, but have done for the last year or so. I
cured this last time by replacing both the front callipers (4 years ago), so
I just assumed the callipers may be starting to seize again. This may point
at the master cylinder, but I have little confidence that this is going to
cure it, & I really don't want to go to the expense of playing guessing
games. The car has done 170,000 miles & with having a CVH engine I can't see
it lasting much longer. I usually do most repairs myself, but had taken it
to garages on this occasion because of the hassle I've had with the snapped
stub axel bolts (in previous post).
Sorry to drone on, but I really don't want to get rid of this car yet,
especially as it's LPG converted - PLEASE HELP!!!

"Dave Griffs" <dr.clayton(no spam)@talk21.com> wrote in message 
news:ymkse.11901$q46.2562@newsfe1-win.ntli.net...

>I have had new rear shoes & adjusters fitted on my 95 escort as the
> handbrake was taking 14 - 18 clicks to activate. After this the brakes
> started binding, where both hubs were getting equally hot. At one point I
> pulled the handbrake up hard & the brakes completely binded & it was a
> struggle to get the car to move again (made the clutch smoke!). I found 
> that
> if I didn't use the handbrake for a few days, the binding stopped, so I
> assumed the handbrake cable must be seized. Took it to another garage 
> today
> who replaced the cable. The handbrake lever feels much better now, but the
> rear brakes are still getting hot. i slackened off the cable has the 
> garage
> had set the max clicks to 3, & ford recommend 6, didn't help though. The
> front brakes also bind a little, but have done for the last year or so. I
> cured this last time by replacing both the front callipers (4 years ago), 
> so
> I just assumed the callipers may be starting to seize again. This may 
> point
> at the master cylinder, but I have little confidence that this is going to
> cure it, & I really don't want to go to the expense of playing guessing
> games. The car has done 170,000 miles & with having a CVH engine I can't 
> see
> it lasting much longer. I usually do most repairs myself, but had taken it
> to garages on this occasion because of the hassle I've had with the 
> snapped
> stub axel bolts (in previous post).
> Sorry to drone on, but I really don't want to get rid of this car yet,
> especially as it's LPG converted - PLEASE HELP!!!
>
>


when the brakes are binding, slacken the bolts that secure the master 
cylinder to the servo, if this releases the brakes you are on the right 
track.  a maladjusted brake light switch can cause this fault.

mrcheerful

<snip>


> Sorry to drone on, but I really don't want to get rid of this car yet,
> especially as it's LPG converted - PLEASE HELP!!!
>
>


Could be rear hub bolts over-tightened causing the bearing to be tight, 
hence causing binding and heat.

Alan.