One wheel locked up shortly after changing brake pads

SUNSHINERHWD

MEMBER
2006 TOYOTA COROLLA
1.8L
4 CYL
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

After replacing brake pads on my car the front passenger side wheel evidently locked up. It felt like the car was braking while I was trying to accelerate and almost like I did not have control over braking and accelerating. There was smoke coming from the one wheel. We pulled over, let the wheel cool down and carefully drove it home. Took it to the shop and they said the valve assembly was broken and I had major unsafe driving issues. They replaced the rotors, calipers, brake hose, pads and valve assembly to the tune of about $800.00. My question is, what could cause this problem and why would it only happen on the one side?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,709 POSTS

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros. Com.

Wow! Honestly, if the wheel was not locking up prior, either things were not put back together correctly or for some odd reason, a slid pin froze or the caliper suddenly decided it was going to lock up. A rubber brake hose can cause an issue, but if it was not an issue prior, why now?

I have been working on cars for nearly forty years and have never heard of a valve assembly relating to brakes (other than a proportioning valve). If that is what was replaced, I have no idea why everything else was too. A bad proportioning valve does not cause the other components to fail. I am sorry, but everything does not go bad all at once. No matter how I look at it, I do not understand why the total was so high or why everything was needed.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe