Help urgent!!! All brakes locking up, fluid boiling and brakes smoking.'85 5KQ

["Martin Pot" <paulnet@ipa.net>]

I saw a Q in Eureka Springs AR. and the hood was open. I had to see what was
going on, and there was a stressed familie on a weekend trip from OK. trying
to make it to Branson MO. The Q is an '85 5KQ non turbo in overall
reasonable shape. I did notice that the brake warning light sensor had been
disconnected, and asked him if he was aware of that. He knew that, and also
that the bomb was bad since he got the car. This is what happened. They were
driving on their way from OK. and out of the blue he had to downshift, and
could feel the dragging, but they had to go on. By the time they got to the
gas station here, and opened the hood, there was brake fluid bubbling out of
the reservoir and the brake discs were red hot, all 4 of them! He let
everything cool of and added more fluid and made it to their destination. He
has called me from there and said that he has taken the wheels off and is
trying to find the problem, I don't know what to tell him except possible
master cilinder seized. Right now he is in a hotel and will call me back
late tonight. This guy knows about the list and has been on it, seems pretty
handy and determined to have his Audi. I promised I would post his problem,
to give him some direction, to solve it. What could cause such a dramatic
brake failure?????? Thanks, everyone.