Rod, please help me with my brakes!
 

I have a '94 Ford Ranger, and the front right side brakes seem to be dragging pretty bad, to the point of where smoke will start rising from that side of the car. I noticed that when it got hot the excess grease I packed into the hubs and bearings would shoot out, so I took the wheel off, bought new bearings, bought new pads, and replaced everything, repacked the bearings, put on anti squeal compound, and the problem went away for a while. It's been about 3 months since the truck last did it, and now the problem is back again. What could cause my truck to drag brakes? From what I've read, it's a pretty common problem, but I have yet to find a solution. What do you think I should do? This truck is my daily driver while the Z is down (bad piston rings, burns oil) so it's important that I fix it right.

Fords in general from that era, especially rangers and explorers are notorious for caliper problems. They used a semi-plastic like material for the piston and they expand over time (Swell) and hang up. I almost gaurantee you have a bad caliper. You should be able to get a rebuilt caliper at any auto parts store fairly cheap (30-40 bucks). You should replace both fronts at the same time, but if you can't afford it right now just get the side that is dragging. What's happening is that the pad isn't fully retracing away from the rotor and it super heats the rotor... not good. check the rotor surface for small fishure like cracks as well... another common ailment.

Rod.

cool, thanks Rod. The guys on RPS.com were saying it might be a brake line that had a collapsed insert. What's funny is the caliper is cheaper than the hoses. I'll get a caliper and see what happens!

Yeah, the symptom you descirbed doesn't sound like a brake line issue at all. That would be a totally different problem. Like I wrote before, those Rangers and Explorers are NOTORIOUS fo caliper failure. Ask any mechanic whose been around for a few years and they'll tell you that they have made a good living off of those trucks and their brake issues. It's the weak link on an otherwise pretty good truck.

Rod.

that's what I've been told, and that's why I went and asked you Rod, I knew you wouldn't screw me over! :D