Car has the following symptoms:
After I drive the car about 12 miles, the brakes slowly sieze up. The longer I drive, the tighter they get and the harder the pedal becomes. After the car cools off overnight, the pressure gets relieved and the brakes loosen again. The front brakes are more severely affected than the rear ones (you can tell by trying to spin the wheels).
I replaced the front calipers to no avail. The brake hoses were ruled out as the cause of the problem. The Chrysler dealer's mechanics didn't feel that the master cylinder or the vacuum booster were involved because the problem wouldn't come and go as it does.
The problem is closely connected with temperature because, one very cold day, the brakes froze open. Could only apply them the next day when it was warmer.
Could the ABS (anti-lock braking system) or TRAC (traction control system) be the cause of the problem? How can they (or the master cylinder or booster, for that matter) be tested?
Coincidentally, the car started losing engine oil at about the same time the brake problem started. Probably no connection.
If anyone has any idea what is going on, please help! This could get expensive....
JB