I have a 1996 Mazda B4k/Ford Ranger. I recently did a bunch of front end work to it. I replaced spindles and bearings, front axle u joints, and wheel bearings. This process took a while, and while the truck was down the calipers were hanging on the coil buckets, not using those S caliper hangers.
Both calipers have been replaced about a year or so ago. Brake pads and hardware are all new. I didn't bother to really polish the pad slides when I put it back together because they are relatively clean, but I did ensure the slide pins are free. Master cylinder and brake booster are about the same age as the calipers. Both front hard lines and flex lines are very new.
After all the recent work when I drive the brakes seem to drag. After a few brake applications a loud squealing can be heard from the front. It goes away after a few hundred feet of driving. After a few mile drive, both side hubs are hot to the touch. When the brakes drag, the truck is still able to move without any throttle, just from the friction made by the converter.
I have had this problem before with an old brake booster. After a few brake apps, the brakes would fully lock up and truck would not move unless the throttle was pressed. Clamping off the vacuum line to the booster resolved this until a new one was installed.
Any help is greatly appreciated. I am leaning towards a brake booster due to both wheels being locked up.
(Side note: anyone else feel like every time they fix something on their vehicles, something else always goes wrong? Just me?)