98 nissan maxima brakes applying on there on.

[quote:fe7542c459="jam315"]160,000 miles. car's front brakes lock up sometimes and cause car to strain to go and heat up to the point of smoke coming from rotors. when it does this the brake pedal gets tight and starts pulsating when applied. what causes this?[/quote:fe7542c459]

Hello !!
Could be a faulty Caliper (piston way out or not straight)
or Master cylinder (not returning brake fluid to the reservoir)

check how thin are your rotors...

Lock brakes become after cutting to much (or out of spec. rotors) the piston on the caliper travel so much that could "twist" and become dangerous!

check that first!

let us know!

Hello.

Thanks for the info will check that out and get back to you.

calipers are a little warped right now because of excessive heat from grabbing but that have never been turned so they are not worn. Is there any way to test that master cylinder to see if that is the problem?

[quote="jam315"]calipers are a little warped right now because of excessive heat from grabbing but that have never been turned so they are not worn. Is there any way to test that master cylinder to see if that is the problem?[/quote

Hello !!

well you`re saying that the "rotors" are warped Right?

the problem with the calipers got overheat its that the "piston seals" got "melted" and because of that the caliper "stuck" that way you experience a "lock" brakes..
Once you have an overheat caliper the only solution its to replace it..

to be honest I Never use myself any rebuilt brake component..

when you`re talking brakes you`re talking: Safety!

I would replace the calipers and cut rotors *

*if never were cut (I just cut them one time)

let us know!

Hello!

so what would would cause the initial "random" locking of the brakes? It would seem that it would be unlikely for both calipers to go at same time right?

[quote:edbc4382d8="jam315"]Hello!

so what would would cause the initial "random" locking of the brakes? It would seem that it would be unlikely for both calipers to go at same time right?[/quote:edbc4382d8]

Well, sometimes driving downhill braking to much, the brake pads got crystallized that creates "heat" and that heat it`s transfered to the calipers burning the "piston seals"..

sometimes the master cylinder got "clog "dirty or contaminated brake fluid) and the fluid wont return to the reservoir...

Or could be the case of a distributor valve clog up or failure...

on your case my advice its to check the master cylinder and replace if faulty, check the dist. valve.. (follow the brake lines) cut the rotors, replace calipers and pads and purge the lines one by one...
Also check the back brakes

sounds expensive but could be worse if you have an accident because of that..

Good luck!

I will do that! Thank you very much for the information you have been very helpful!!!!

[quote:ec1d6ea1bc="jam315"]I will do that! Thank you very much for the information you have been very helpful!!!![/quote:ec1d6ea1bc]

Any time!

And thank you for choose 2Carpros !!

Good Luck!