A 2012 automatic Mazda 3 i Grand Touring with 112k miles. There are times when the brakes fail to disengage after braking, and they feel almost like they're sticking. Coming to a complete stop usually fixes this problem, which makes it not a huge issue driving in the city but unsafe on the highway. I replaced all four brake pads and cleaned the rotors and calipers, but the problem persists. I'd like advice on what direction to go in before throwing more money at it.
Well you'd have to figure out what's sticking. It could be a caliper sticking which would be one of the wheels generally. Or it could be the brake master cylinder dragging and they would all be sticking. I would start by using a thermal gun that measures temperatures. You can get one of those for 20 bucks from Amazon. When you think it's sticking quick stop, get out and measure the temperature of all four brake rotors. You find that they're all hot and something like the master cylinder sticking. But if only one is hot that would mean that caliper is sticking. I would start there
