Brakes binding on cold start ? ( and a wee bit about me ! )

[YOOFALLMAN]

Good afternoon/evening/morning folks ( wherever you are in the world ! ) -first time poster and new to the site. I'm a newbie Bullitt owner over here in Scotland - picked her up ( the Missus thinks" its a he! ) as from a week before Christmas - so only six or seven weeks of ownership.Consequently, with the pretty much crappola weather we get here in Winter time - not a great deal of snow or ice thankfully.......just...well crap, miserable weather, "she's" been under cover in the garage and I have only just under 400 miles on her thus far. I consider myself fortunate that I've the luxury of a daily driver in any event and really, really looking forward to the high days and dry days of Spring/Summer ( less crap ! ) weather ha ha ! Absolutely smitten with my first ever Mustang - my first car ever was a Ford back in the late 70's....yeah, yeah.....I'm an old fart.......and I've owned and driven quite a few performance Ford's in a good few years driving - but this, is the best ever ! Off the scale enjoyable !
Anyhow, apologies, I'm rambling far too much ( I'll get some pictures of her up when......you know....the weather is less crap - there I go again ! ) , but I'm after a bit of advice from those on here who are infinitely more knowledgeable than I am ( I can barely spell D.I.Y. let alone remotely claim to be even an entry-level grease monkey! ) . With so few miles driven in the last few weeks - I've only had the chance or rather I've only chosen to take her out on dry weekends - so there's always been at least seven days - sometimes longer between starting her up and reversing out of the garage. But I've noticed on the last two or three occasions that when I do go to reverse, it feels as if the front?? brakes have locked on for what can only be a split second or so - there's a distinct feeling and sound of a jerky "release" ( that make sense ? ) so I've been leaving the parking brake off and the car in gear and had thought it must be something to do with it not being driven or maybe the cold temperature in the garage? Whilst I'm going to go all meteorological yet again....its not as if we've been experiencing freezing temperatures....I guess its never gotten colder than say 25°F ( -3° or so Celsius in the Winter so far in Scotland ) I just wondered if anybody had experienced something similar and can enlighten me as to whether its problematic / serious enough that a trip is needed back to the Ford Dealership ? I had her out last Friday for an hour or so and when I got back in to drive home from a restaurant there's absolutely no sign of this at all - but again, its only happened each time I've gone to move the car after a period when she's not moved at all for a week or more. Its hopefully much ado about nothing but thought I'd ask in any event. Hopefully someone can chime in for me.

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[kz]

Completely normal.

 

[YOOFALLMAN]

Completely normal.

Cheers kz - as you might've guessed I hadnt a Scooby......

 

[Sivi70980]

Happens to me but typically after parking in the garage after driving in the rain (daily driver). Surface rust on rotors forms and has to break free when I back out of the garage in the morning. Rotors are clear and rust free before I leave the neighborhood by just normal driving. My last car did the same thing and never had any issues. Only did it when driving in the rain the day before so guessing moister issue. If your weather has been as crappy as you've described, maybe even in your garage there's enough moister to cause the same surface rust on the rotors.

 

[Sivi70980]

Happens to me but typically after parking in the garage after driving in the rain (daily driver). Surface rust on rotors forms and has to break free when I back out of the garage in the morning. Rotors are clear and rust free before I leave the neighborhood by just normal driving. My last car did the same thing and never had any issues. Only did it when driving in the rain the day before so guessing moister issue. If your weather has been as crappy as you've described, maybe even in your garage there's enough moister to cause the same surface rust on the rotors.

Moisture? Also not a great speller lol

 

[Magmetallic15]

It can be the surface rust on the brake rotors as mentioned. It could also be the "hill-assist" feature kicking in. Is your driveway level? The "hill-assist" should engage the brakes on an sloped surface to prevent the car from rolling backward when the clutch is engaged. Could this be what is happening?

 

[YOOFALLMAN]

It can be the surface rust on the brake rotors as mentioned. It could also be the "hill-assist" feature kicking in. Is your driveway level? The "hill-assist" should engage the brakes on an sloped surface to prevent the car from rolling backward when the clutch is engaged. Could this be what is happening?

I guess its just the moisture in the atmosphere - although dry in the ( very much level floored - I think ? ) garage itself, we've experienced a pretty damp and cold (ish ) Winter over here so far - so rust on the brake rotors seems to me, from what you guys have said , to be the most likely explanation....roll on the Summer !

 

[Sivi70980]

I guess its just the moisture in the atmosphere - although dry in the ( very much level floored - I think ? ) garage itself, we've experienced a pretty damp and cold (ish ) Winter over here so far - so rust on the brake rotors seems to me, from what you guys have said , to be the most likely explanation....roll on the Summer !

Can always check the rotors out next time if you're thinking about it. Would hate for it to be something else, especially concerning your brakes! Oh and congrats on the car! LOVE that green color!

 

[Cobra Jet]

It’s not your brakes locking, it’s actually the tires

If you’re in temps below 50*F, “Summer” tires such as those on the GT PP1, GTPP2, EB PP and GT350 get rock hard. They are not meant for temps below 40* and traction is degraded when temps drop. Upon an initial start up and backing or pulling out of a parking spot, the tires will actually skip or “chatter” across the pavement, especially if turning the wheel.

If temps are below 40*F, it’s been more noticeable and when temps drop below 30*, they will skip or chatter even more dramatically; don’t expect too much traction if our driving about in very cold or freezing weather.

My Pirellis skip and chatter a lot when it’s below 40*, it feels similar to what you are describing, can be and almost feels/sounds similar to a grinding noise OR say driving on a stone driveway and turning the front wheels back and forth.

The Mustang Owner’s Manual and the Tire booklet that came with the car will also warn of driving with Summer Only tires when exterior temps are 40*F and below.

 

[kz]

It’s not your brakes locking, it’s actually the tires

If you’re in temps below 50*F, “Summer” tires such as those on the GT PP1, GTPP2, EB PP and GT350 get rock hard. They are not meant for temps below 40* and traction is degraded when temps drop. Upon an initial start up and backing or pulling out of a parking spot, the tires will actually skip or “chatter” across the pavement, especially if turning the wheel.

If temps are below 40*F, it’s been more noticeable and when temps drop below 30*, they will skip or chatter even more dramatically; don’t expect too much traction if our driving about in very cold or freezing weather.

My Pirellis skip and chatter a lot when it’s below 40*, it feels similar to what you are describing, can be and almost feels/sounds similar to a grinding noise OR say driving on a stone driveway and turning the front wheels back and forth.

The Mustang Owner’s Manual and the Tire booklet that came with the car will also warn of driving with Summer Only tires when exterior temps are 40*F and below.

No - it is brakes what he is describing and in a damp weather they will get that stuck. No one could mistake it for anything related to tires. Tires will chatter when turning if cold, but not when moving in straight line from the stops. Combination of Brembo pads / PP rotors has this effect. It's normal.

 

[OldPhart]

Good afternoon/evening/morning folks ( wherever you are in the world ! ) -first time poster and new to the site. I'm a newbie Bullitt owner over here in Scotland - picked her up ( the Missus thinks" its a he! ) as from a week before Christmas - so only six or seven weeks ofownership.Consequently, with the pretty much crappola weather we get here in Winter time - not a great deal of snow or ice thankfully.......just...well crap, miserable weather, "she's" been under cover in the garage and I have only just under 400 miles on her thus far. I consider myself fortunate that I've the luxury of a daily driver in any event and really, really looking forward to the high days and dry days of Spring/Summer ( less crap ! ) weather ha ha ! Absolutely smitten with my first ever Mustang - my first car ever was a Ford back in the late 70's....yeah, yeah.....I'm an old fart.......and I've owned and driven quite a few performance Ford's in a good few years driving - but this, is the best ever ! Off the scale enjoyable !
Anyhow, apologies, I'm rambling far too much ( I'll get some pictures of her up when......you know....the weather is less crap - there I go again ! ) , but I'm after a bit of advice from those on here who are infinitely more knowledgeable than I am ( I can barely spell D.I.Y. let alone remotely claim to be even an entry-level grease monkey! ) . With so few miles driven in the last few weeks - I've only had the chance or rather I've only chosen to take her out on dry weekends - so there's always been at least seven days - sometimes longer between starting her up and reversing out of the garage. But I've noticed on the last two or three occasions that when I do go to reverse, it feels as if the front?? brakes have locked on for what can only be a split second or so - there's a distinct feeling and sound of a jerky "release" ( that make sense ? ) so I've been leaving the parking brake off and the car in gear and had thought it must be something to do with it not being driven or maybe the cold temperature in the garage? Whilst I'm going to go all meteorological yet again....its not as if we've been experiencing freezing temperatures....I guess its never gotten colder than say 25°F ( -3° or so Celsius in the Winter so far in Scotland ) I just wondered if anybody had experienced something similar and can enlighten me as to whether its problematic / serious enough that a trip is needed back to the Ford Dealership ? I had her out last Friday for an hour or so and when I got back in to drive home from a restaurant there's absolutely no sign of this at all - but again, its only happened each time I've gone to move the car after a period when she's not moved at all for a week or more. Its hopefully much ado about nothing but thought I'd ask in any event. Hopefully someone can chime in for me.

Hi - Congrats on the car. You can’t go wrong buying a car with a color called Highland Green. The color was a real factor for me and particularly apropos since I have Irish and Scottish ancestors. I agree with the brake theory as well. I was there in May and being surrounded by water there is no shortage of moisture in the air. My wife said that is good for the skin. I assumed being near the North Sea could result in nasty winter weather. We enjoyed our time there, but not sure (age 78) I’m up for another overseas trip. You will not regret getting the Bullitt - enjoy! Bruce

 

[YOOFALLMAN]

Hi - Congrats on the car. You can’t go wrong buying car with a color called Highland Green. The color was a real factor for me and particularly apropos since I have Irish and Scottish ancestors. I agree with the brake theory as well. I was there in May and being surrounded by water there is no shortage of moisture in the air. My wife said that is good for the skin. I assumed being near the North Sea could result in nasty winter weather. We enjoyed our time there, but not sure (age 78) I’m up for another overseas trip. You will not regret getting the Bullitt - enjoy! Bruce

Thanks Bruce - yes, definitely a sense ( although again I’ll stress that I’m no expert.....) that it’s the Brembos momentarily catching and then releasing.....rather than a sound of tyres on the dry concrete floor. Hey, 78 is never too old for an overseas trip....and with as Scottish a name as you have....there’s really only one place to visit !!!!

 

[OldPhart]

It can be the surface rust on the brake rotors as mentioned. It could also be the "hill-assist" feature kicking in. Is your driveway level? The "hill-assist" should engage the brakes on an sloped surface to prevent the car from rolling backward when the clutch is engaged. Could this be what is happening?

Hi - I don’t know about others, but I disabled the hill hold feature. As a long time user of standard shift cars, I found it annoying. It’s okay, but frivolous, with automatics. This is one of those personal preference subjects... Bruce

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