:confused: Brakes Locked Up! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Stricklinator · 03-05-2011, 03:36 PM

I was on the way back from the dump with my son and I noticed the brake pedal was hard all of a sudden. The brakes seemed to be on with no help from me! About a block later I had to stop when I saw smoke coming from the rear brakes. So now my 1969 C/20 is a few blocks away stuck and I had to walk home. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

cdowns · 03-05-2011, 03:42 PM

emergency brake is on

1970 Bowtie · 03-05-2011, 03:51 PM

x2,did you set the e-brake at the dump,released them and they stuck.Tends to happen with old cables.

68gmsee · 03-05-2011, 04:01 PM

Happened to me many years ago. Probably a collapsed rubber brake hose on the rear passenger side of the axle. Allows the fluid to be forced to the brakes but not enough spring tension to return it to the master cylinder. Common problem on these old trucks.

I'd replace all three of them. The two in the front and the rear one.

Stricklinator · 03-05-2011, 04:27 PM

The e-brake pedal isn't on and it barely worked anyway; could that still be it or is it more likely brake lines? I had to replace the left rear line when I got it as it was rusted through. Maybe I should do them all? Ive got to figure out a way to get it home first though! Thanks for the help so far!

68gmsee · 03-05-2011, 04:35 PM

It's the rubber hoses that go bad. You can't see it from the outside but the inside swells up to the point where fluid is restricted and not able to return.

Best way to check is to loosen the brake bleed valve on the side that's stuck and see if it unsticks it. If it does then you have a restriction and more than likely it's those rubber hoses.

Stricklinator · 03-05-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

It's the rubber hoses that go bad. You can't see it from the outside but the inside swells up to the point where fluid is restricted and not able to return.

Best way to check is to loosen the brake bleed valve on the side that's stuck and see if it unsticks it. If it does then you have a restriction and more than likely it's those rubber hoses.

That makes sense; thanks to everyone for the help. If it is still locked up, I will back out one/both rear bleeders and see if I can limp it home!

1970 Bowtie · 03-05-2011, 05:34 PM

Do not try to drive it with the bleeders open,you will loose all the fluid and suck air into the system= no brakes.

Stricklinator · 03-05-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970 Bowtie

Do not try to drive it with the bleeders open,you will loose all the fluid and suck air into the system= no brakes.

Hmm, wouldn't I still have front brakes? When I got it I limped it home with a hole in the rear line (14 miles). I would have to go about half a mile to get it home now.

1970 Bowtie · 03-05-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stricklinator

Hmm, wouldn't I still have front brakes? When I got it I limped it home with a hole in the rear line (14 miles). I would have to go about half a mile to get it home now.

Well you did not say how far you had to go.I would do it,just be carefull.Follow someone you know,if the brakes fail at least you hit someone you know.

Stricklinator · 03-05-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970 Bowtie

Well you did not say how far you had to go.I would do it,just be carefull.Follow someone you know,if the brakes fail at least you hit someone you know.

great idea! Thanks.

**mr48chev** · 03-05-2011, 06:06 PM

If you release the pressure and that works go light on the brakes until you get it home and get it fixed.

Just drive it like you don't have any brakes at all and give your self enough room to slow way down at lights and make gentle stops when you need to. But keep the bleeders closed after you release the pressure even if you have to do it again a couple of times.

cstm68 · 03-05-2011, 07:16 PM

if you drive it with the bleeder open you will not have any petal loose all your fluid and stroke the master and fill the system with air

Stricklinator · 03-05-2011, 11:23 PM

I got it home in one piece- the brakes weren't locked up anymore. I will replace all of the rubber lines and go from there. Thanks again for the help. This forum is awesome!
Paul
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

cdowns · 03-06-2011, 07:48 AM

you should change those rear shoes,pay special attention to the drums as overheated they tend to get warped and also with the heat treatment they glaze over and the result is poorer brake performance

03-05-2011, 03:36 PM	#1
Stricklinator Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murrieta, California Posts: 234	:confused: Brakes Locked Up! I was on the way back from the dump with my son and I noticed the brake pedal was hard all of a sudden. The brakes seemed to be on with no help from me! About a block later I had to stop when I saw smoke coming from the rear brakes. So now my 1969 C/20 is a few blocks away stuck and I had to walk home. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

03-05-2011, 03:42 PM	#2
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! emergency brake is on __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-05-2011, 03:51 PM	#3
1970 Bowtie It's all in the timing Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lake Mary,Florida Posts: 600	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! x2,did you set the e-brake at the dump,released them and they stuck.Tends to happen with old cables. __________________ The Dude Abides. ---------------------- I aint sayin, I'm just sayin.

03-05-2011, 04:01 PM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! Happened to me many years ago. Probably a collapsed rubber brake hose on the rear passenger side of the axle. Allows the fluid to be forced to the brakes but not enough spring tension to return it to the master cylinder. Common problem on these old trucks. I'd replace all three of them. The two in the front and the rear one.

03-05-2011, 04:27 PM	#5
Stricklinator Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murrieta, California Posts: 234	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! The e-brake pedal isn't on and it barely worked anyway; could that still be it or is it more likely brake lines? I had to replace the left rear line when I got it as it was rusted through. Maybe I should do them all? Ive got to figure out a way to get it home first though! Thanks for the help so far!

03-05-2011, 04:35 PM	#6
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! It's the rubber hoses that go bad. You can't see it from the outside but the inside swells up to the point where fluid is restricted and not able to return. Best way to check is to loosen the brake bleed valve on the side that's stuck and see if it unsticks it. If it does then you have a restriction and more than likely it's those rubber hoses.

03-05-2011, 05:34 PM	#8
1970 Bowtie It's all in the timing Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lake Mary,Florida Posts: 600	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! Do not try to drive it with the bleeders open,you will loose all the fluid and suck air into the system= no brakes. __________________ The Dude Abides. ---------------------- I aint sayin, I'm just sayin.

03-05-2011, 06:06 PM	#12
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,708	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! If you release the pressure and that works go light on the brakes until you get it home and get it fixed. Just drive it like you don't have any brakes at all and give your self enough room to slow way down at lights and make gentle stops when you need to. But keep the bleeders closed after you release the pressure even if you have to do it again a couple of times. Last edited by mr48chev; 03-05-2011 at 06:08 PM.

03-05-2011, 07:16 PM	#13
cstm68 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: shoreline, wa Posts: 1,565	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! if you drive it with the bleeder open you will not have any petal loose all your fluid and stroke the master and fill the system with air __________________ 68 swb fleet bagged on 20's 327 with 4 speed http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=223308 2014 Chevy 2500hd duramax CCLB

03-05-2011, 11:23 PM	#14
Stricklinator Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murrieta, California Posts: 234	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! I got it home in one piece- the brakes weren't locked up anymore. I will replace all of the rubber lines and go from there. Thanks again for the help. This forum is awesome! Paul Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device

03-06-2011, 07:48 AM	#15
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: :confused: Brakes Locked Up! you should change those rear shoes,pay special attention to the drums as overheated they tend to get warped and also with the heat treatment they glaze over and the result is poorer brake performance __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

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