What would cause the front brakes to get so hot it pops the tire.

SOURCE: Front Brake Pads locked up on Rotor

Have the brake pads been so very work they are down to the metal? This could cause the caliper piston to extend too far and not be able to retract properly.
Calipers Fail mostly from a cut in the rubber boot around the pistion dirt and debris get in there and rust the piston and it cannot retract properly Do they retract after they cool Down? if so the brake fluid has "boiled" if brake fluid is not changed about every 24,000 miles condensation builds up and lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid causing this problem.
Tell me does it happen after a long drive or siting a long time in heavy bumper to bumper traffic in hot summer weather? I recommend a complete brake fluid flush an change the calipers with NEW ones ot rebuilt and use dielectric grease on all points of metal to metal contact between the caliper an the mount bracket and thee ends of thee pada n the slide points they ride on and the pins that go through thecaliper and thread into the mount only dielectric not regular grease it will cause sticking and a worse problem than you have now.

SOURCE: Front wheel discs red hot after driving

They're turning hot because you clamped off the rear lines. Now the fronts are being overworked - they're heating up because they're doing 100% of the stopping instead of the usual 70% or so. Replace the line and bleed the system before you destroy your entire braking system.

SOURCE: noise from front end

Chk. wheel bearings and axel cv joints, and also steering componets and ball joints. Chk. rearend grease.

SOURCE: Smoke coming from right front wheel area after 10

Check the brakes. You may have a caliper dragging due to lack of preventative maintenance. If you never flushed the brake fluid every couple years,the caliper piston could be rusted and sticking.

SOURCE: Front 4-Wheel drive doesn't engage. Front shaft

check the vacuum actuator, make sure there is vacuum to it

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