I have a 1994 Ranger, 3.0 Engine, 2 wheel drive, 48,000 miles. I have a problem with the right front wheel locking up. I can drive 6-8 miles with no problem. At around 10-12 miles of driving (stop and go suburban traffic), the wheel starts to lock up, pulling to the right. Soon the wheel, hub and caliper are so hot it is smoking - an IR thermometer at the wheel hub is 300 degrees F (hub on opposite side is about 150 degrees). After it cools and sets for a while, everything is good. This has happened 3 times in the last few weeks. I have replaced brake pads on both wheels and the wheel bearings on the affected wheel without any improvement. I can only guess that there may be some obstrucion in the brake line preventing pressure from being released on the caliper. The truck has rear ABS, nothing on the front.
Does anybody have any ideas?
Thanks

Caliper is sticken or the rubber brake line is bad

Sent from my VM670 using FRF App

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97 ranger reg cab 2.3 5 speed. 2 wd no ac. Mods after market jvc head unit & throttle cable. 06 mirror upgrade.

New caliper and brake lines. Always change both. What happens is the rubber in the brake line can break down and block the fluid from returning. Also, clean the area where the caliper slides on the bracket. If you don't change the line and clean the slide area you will install a new caliper and it will get hot and destroy its seals. I have not messed with a Ranger, but I have done many F-350's and they are bad for doing what your truck is doing. The 1 tons have two pins that keep the calipers in place and that is the area that needs to be clean on them. Also your brake fluid is no good anymore so change it also. To changed the fluid (which should be done every 2 years) use a turkey baster to remove most of the fluid in the master and then add new fluid. Start and the right rear and loosen the bleeder and let the fluid run out until clear. Then the left rear, right front and finish with the left front. The fluid on the rears might need someone applying the pedal to make the fluid come out. Of course you need to tighten the bleeder when they release the pedal. You can buy special bleeders that have a one way valve that will let the fluid out, but stop the air from coming in.

If the hub got real hot you might want to check your bearing grease. You have a 94 so, you still have a spindle setup which is serviceable unlike these stupid new unit hubs.

FYI, yours is a 94 so the bleeders will most likely be in bad shape / rusty

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2002 Ranger Edge Supercab 3.0 Auto 4x2 White
2005 VW TDI Golf