Rear End or Brakes?

[garold99]

For some reason when I am in drive and go to take off, my truck will hesitate like maybe the break is locked up. Kinda vibrates also. Sometimes it will do it in reverse, but most of the time its when its in drive. I pulled the wheel off and the drum came off with no problems, so it didnt seem like the brake was too tight. Also the parking break lines are cut so I wouldnt think that would be the problem.

This didnt start happening till I had the rear breaks replaced and mostly rebuilt. But my trucks rear end does slowly leak fluid. So I'm wondering if maybe the rear end might be low or out of fluid, if that would cause this problem. Its kinda like when you go to take off, its just hard getting started going from a dead stop.

I checked the u-joints, and the carrier barring, they seem ok. I even put the truck up on stands while my wife ran it in drive, it seemed to do ok. Also in reverse it seemed to do ok. Except when I had her slam on the brakes, in reverse there was a loud pop as the truck stopped fairly quickly. But in drive it didnts stop as fast so no pop.

Any ideas what this may be? I havent dived into it to deep except for what Ive listed. I still need to check the rear end fluid also.

Thanks

[69rut]

Perhaps you have the shoes on backward?
Springs on backward?
Problem with the "E" brake cable attachment or other hardware?

The problem is in the brakes IMO, not low fluid in the axle. You stated that the problem started after a brake job, so I would look there.

[caminokid]

I would say the brakes too. Go back over everything you done. It could be something so simple you missed it.

[c10addict]

Is it an automatic?? I would check the tranny fluid... To me it doesnt sound like brakes at all... Sounds like the trans is slipping! Good luck... Keep us posted..

[68gmsee]

Suspect the brakes first.... Grabbing.

I had trouble with a particular brand from Auto Zone being grabby several years ago to the point that I had to change brands and get my money back.

Don't overlook the fact that contaminated and/or out of round drums and shoes have a tendency to do that also.

And, one more - a lot of us have had problems with "slow fluid return." This is usually caused by internally swollen brake line rubber hoses.
You can't see it from the outside but they get so bad that the fluid goes fairly easyily under pressure to the brakes but is slow to return to the master cylinder.

Had that happen to me and had trouble finding it because by the time that I would remove the brake drum the shoe was back in place.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

are the shoes covered in brake fluid? That will cause them to be grabby. You need to find out where your loosing fluid!

[garold99]

Shoes are not covered in brake fluid. Not loosing any brake fluid anywhere. The fluid lose is from the rear end gasket, nothing really major. Also a leaky tranny, again nothing major. but its full.

I was thinking rear end because when I had it up on jacks, I could barely turn the tire. But now that I think about it, I think my wife had the truck in park at the time, maybe I should have tried it in neutral.

I know my rubber brake line on the side that seems to be having problems (the passenger side) does need to be replaced because I ran it the wrong way around the shock a few years ago and it is kinda kinked and old. How much are those to replace and are they easy? Shop quoted me $110 a couple years ago while I was in having the oil changed.

[garold99]

oh yeah, forgot. The drums are new, I replaced them when I had the brakes done. Let my bro-in-law do the brakes because they was needing money at the time. I'll start there.

Someone mentioned emergency brake. That doesnt work, the lines were cut when I bought the truck back in '95 and the e-brake has never worked.

[hdflstf]

Can you take a picture of the brakes installed to show the linings, springs and so on. Maybe the experts here can spot a problem with the installation.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by garold99

I know my rubber brake line on the side that seems to be having problems (the passenger side) does need to be replaced because I ran it the wrong way around the shock a few years ago and it is kinda kinked and old. How much are those to replace and are they easy? Shop quoted me $110 a couple years ago while I was in having the oil changed.

I didn't have trouble replacing mine but, they're kinda pricey. When I replaced mine I was surprised at how steep they were, but I bit the bullet and replaced all of mine. I figured they had lasted over 20-30 years so it's not a bad investment... Any auto parts store should carry them.

[garold99]

Originally Posted by hdflstf

Can you take a picture of the brakes installed to show the linings, springs and so on. Maybe the experts here can spot a problem with the installation.

I can do this. But we started a garage sale today so it would be at least Monday before I could post a picture.

[grayw0lf]

I had a similar problem, but it was slightly different.

My rear drums were rusting up. My usual trip consists of about a 100 yards to the neighbors to put the boat in & another 100 yards back home.

Do you drive in the water much?

[garold99]

No, dont drive in the water. And brakes didnt look rusty when I pulled drum off. At one point I was thinking maybe the wheel might be freezing up. Not sure if that can happen unless the brakes sieze, or if it can happen how to fix it. I may get to look at them Sunday, if not, it will be Monday. Due to the garage sale we are having.

[garold99]

I figured out what this feels like. It feels like the emergency brake is on, except my emergency brake line is not hooked up. And you can go backwards with no problems really. Or like your standing on the brakes while punching the gas to do a burn out. Then when your moving forwards it will slow to stop quicker than normal. Might be a front brake problem, I have disk on front. But I tend to think its the rear.