This is a 92 wagon with 150,000. I bought it about 6 weeks ago. It has an intermittent problem with shimmying in the front end. Today it was bad and I also noticed the car was very sluggish and the engine getting hotter than usual. When I applied the brakes I just had to touch the pedal and the car was stopping.When I returned from my 40 minute trip I jacked up the front and found both front wheels to be VERY hot (I couldn't handle the lug nuts) and the wheels were very stiff to rotate). After about 30 -45 minutes and the wheels had cooled off, they spun freely. The rear brakes were cool by comparison. I assume that the shimmy was caused by the overheating brakes warping the rotor - or something like that.

This car was sitting a few months before I picked it up. A friend has suggested that the front calipers are gummed-up.

One other symptom. When I first set out in the morning and apply the brakes at the end of the driveway, the pedal goes almost to the floor. After a few more minutes it is normal (about half way to the floor ). I am wondering if the problem is booster related.

Any hints would be welcome. Thanks.