Lately I've been getting obvious wheel lock when starting the car for the first time in the morning in an unheated garage. Start the car as normal, as I let out the clutch I can briefly feel the torque build more than normal as RPM drop, car doesn't move. Then I get a load bang (seems to be from front and rear but hard to say), and car rolls free. From this point, all is normal. Set handbrake at work and when I go out for lunch it almost never happens (although it did happen 1 time).

This started since I had my 17" wheels put on for the winter, this is also when the weather turned cold so I'm not sure which to blame. I'm not talking real cold here, I'm in Nfld where we typically run -5 to 0 degC through the winter. Any ideas? Is this the handbrake?

Probably too much moisture on the brake rotors which could be freezing or rusting slightly overnight.
Are your 17's and open concept wheel? (IE - a 5 star or something?)

My (garaged) 8 in the cold now has about 1/2 inch free play in the parking brake handle. So it's like loose and if I lift it (within the free play) the brake light comes on, or push it down it goes off.

Never did that until sub 30 deg weather.

Don't notice if it actually 'engaged' or not, but doesn't seem so.

MyRXBad - yeah, FRD 30's (part of the group buy from Talon). Strange thing is that they are solidly locked up, sometimes I really have to over rev it to prevent a stall.

Spin9K - I'm noticing the same thing since winter started. You still have the OEM wheels on?

I haven't been using the parking brake in the winter for fear of freezing (we're getting -30C) plus the owner's manual says not to in freezing weather.

Driving Tips Page 4-9
Winter Driving
"Don't use the parking brake in freezing weather as the parking brake may freeze. Instead, shift to P with an automatic transmission and 1 or R with a manual transmission. Block the rear wheels."

I've been leaving it in 1 haven't blocked the wheels.

Originally posted by bgparsons3
MyRXBad - yeah, FRD 30's (part of the group buy from Talon). Strange thing is that they are solidly locked up, sometimes I really have to over rev it to prevent a stall.


This use to happen in my Rx-7 that I had to drive in the winter, and this even happened when I had it in the garage (which was ambient heated by my house.)
The reason I asked you if they were open concept, is that they tend to get more snow/road debris on the rotor/brakes, so it would tend to happen more often then a closed rim.

Jeez Pauleta, to tell you the truth, I never even thought to try not setting the parking brake (if nothing else it would eliminate that cause from my problem). Thanks for the suggestion.

It was 81 degrees here yesterday!!!! :)

Glad I could help.

Originally posted by pauleta
I haven't been using the parking brake in the winter for fear of freezing (we're getting -30C) plus the owner's manual says not to in freezing weather.

Driving Tips Page 4-9
Winter Driving
"Don't use the parking brake in freezing weather as the parking brake may freeze. Instead, shift to P with an automatic transmission and 1 or R with a manual transmission. Block the rear wheels."

I've been leaving it in 1 haven't blocked the wheels.

Makes perfect sense. This car has oversized rotors and pads, much more surface contact area = much more likely to freeze up.

So far, I have not had any problem with this. I usually use the parking brake and sometime left the car in cold tempeture for a few days...no problem. I also have the FD30 wheels.

Same here, FRD 30 rims but no freeze-up of the parking brake.

My parking brake was 'sticking' in November before it got real cold. Like you guys, I did read in the manual where it said that it is prone to do this in cold weather. I'm just not used to parking my car and leaving it in gear. It's all habbit.

After a few weeks of trying the suggestion of not using the parking brake (been leaving it in gear), my problem has not gone away. On particularly cold days (when temp inside my garage goes below freezing) I still get the sticking of the wheels when starting first thing in the morning.

Any other thoughts? While we're at it, anyone have any suggestions to keep the surface rust away from my calipers and rotors?

Don't forget that there is an ABS self check that happens too. Do a search for more info on the ABS check.

bgparsons3 - I see you had an MX-6 LS just as I did.

I used to have frequent parking brake sticking issues with the MX-6 until a few years ago. It was the lever mechanism on the rear discs which would not return completely when the brake was released. After several attempts, a mechanic finally greased it with something that did the job...

As for the RX-8, I don't understand how your brakes could be sticking if you're not even putting them on. Maybe snow melts on your rotors as they warmed up when you slowed down getting home and then water freezes again between the calipers and the rotors as it sits and cools in your garage?!?!

If you've got time one morning, how about lifting one wheel just off the ground at a time with a jack to see if it's front and rear?

Other ideas?

Don't Drive Your 8 In The Winter, fools, thats what the 7 is for. lol

I think I'll keep driving - thanks anyway, Weed. I bought my 8 becuase it is fun to drive. I suppose those who focus on poor gas mileage or storing the car to keep it in "as new" condition have different priorities....

Rotarx - my MX-6 gave me no troubles like this, although I didn't drive it much in winter (learned my lesson). I will probably jack it up to check one day, but my ears tell me it is front and rear. The car is completely stuck when starting on a cold morning (approx 8 out of 10 mornings). At its worst I need to rev up to avoid stalling until the "stick" slips.

I don't believe this is the ABS check as it happens only on cold days - besides, this is more than a thump, the car is wheel stuck.