Rear brakes locking up... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gumby'sC20 · 01-27-2009, 12:52 PM

My right rear wheel locks up, even under light braking. Truck is equipped with stock drums.

What rebuild/repair process should I follow to help ease the issue (i.e. taking brake assembly apart and lubing components, tighten/loosen cables etc)?

Also, does consistent, daily use of the parking brake effect the calibration of the rear drum components that are causing the locking issue?

68gmsee · 01-27-2009, 01:12 PM

Power brakes? Any changes to the system like addition of power booster, master cylinder?

Does it do it everytime you stop or only when you have to make a sudden stop and really stomp on it.

**ScottH** · 01-27-2009, 01:18 PM

I would pull the drum off to see if the axle seal or wheel cylinder is leaking. Once the shoes get wet they lock up. Also if nothing found there consider replacing the rear brake hose. Very common for them to collapse internally.

**steelhorse** · 01-27-2009, 01:21 PM

68gmsee · 01-27-2009, 01:21 PM

Forgot to add.

Consistant use of the parking brake should not cause maladjustments. Actually it's a good thing to keep it from rusting and not working.
Auto adjusting occurs when you are moving backwards and then quickly step on the brake. The rear stopping motion moves the brake "pawl" or lever downward to tighten the brakes if they are out of adjustment.

TCLARK · 07-09-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Forgot to add.

Consistant use of the parking brake should not cause maladjustments. Actually it's a good thing to keep it from rusting and not working.
Auto adjusting occurs when you are moving backwards and then quickly step on the brake. The rear stopping motion moves the brake "pawl" or lever downward to tighten the brakes if they are out of adjustment.

The backwards trick only works if you have Auto adjusters !

**mr48chev** · 07-09-2009, 11:01 AM

I'd say that the first order of business would be to pull the rear drums and take a look inside to see what you have going or not going.

Probably the biggest contributor is something on the lining as mentioned by ScottH. Leaking wheel seals, leaking wheel cylinders or just a lot of brake dust at times.

If just one is grabbing the one on the opposite side may not be working right and letting that one do all the work also.

TCLARK · 07-09-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'd say that the first order of business would be to pull the rear drums and take a look inside to see what you have going or not going.

Probably the biggest contributor is something on the lining as mentioned by ScottH. Leaking wheel seals, leaking wheel cylinders or just a lot of brake dust at times.

If just one is grabbing the one on the opposite side may not be working right and letting that one do all the work also.

Probably bad wheel cylinder...............had the same problem, changed cylinder and fixed it a few years ago now I have the same problem.........crappy parts !

69GMCLonghorn · 07-09-2009, 04:25 PM

Also, if the shoes are old, they can get hardened and cause a lock up issue. When I first bought my truck, I changed the shoes and it helped tremedously.

Longhorn Man · 07-09-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCLARK

The backwards trick only works if you have Auto adjusters !

All 67 - 72 trucks C&K, 10 - 30 series came stock with self adjusting brakes.

I agree on the possibility of fluid causing this, pull the drum and lok into it... and if all looks good, adjust the brakes out on the side that is locking up. Sounds bass ackwards, but that's how it works.

Sammy · 07-09-2009, 10:19 PM

Beware of the canadian made brake drums.(CARQUEST) I had 1 of the two new ones out of round that dragged.

Longhorn Man · 07-10-2009, 05:31 AM

the replacement drums are garbage. You are better odd looking in the junkyard for old ones that can be turned

BarryB · 07-10-2009, 07:47 AM

I just fixed this problem on my S10 don't know it is a possibilty on these trucks. My right rear brake had a broken bolt(only has 2 1/4 bolts) that holds the backing plate to the axle tube. causing it to shift and put that wheel in a bind which in turn would cause my wheel to lock up. Drilled it out, replaced abolt and rebuilt the brakes back there, everythings good now.

TCLARK · 07-10-2009, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

All 67 - 72 trucks C&K, 10 - 30 series came stock with self adjusting brakes.

I agree on the possibility of fluid causing this, pull the drum and lok into it... and if all looks good, adjust the brakes out on the side that is locking up. Sounds bass ackwards, but that's how it works.

I've got a '72 C10 SWB and it dosen't have self adjusters........Somebody could have changed them, why I don't know !

Longhorn Man · 07-10-2009, 01:57 PM

i had a 69 GMC C/1500 short fleet a few years ago... the dope smoking old man removed the adjusting arms out of all 4 wheels on mine. He told me he was too drunk to remember how they went back together.
There was a lot of worrk on that truck done in this state of mind.

01-27-2009, 12:52 PM	#1
Gumby'sC20 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Binghamton, N.Y. Posts: 116	Rear brakes locking up... My right rear wheel locks up, even under light braking. Truck is equipped with stock drums. What rebuild/repair process should I follow to help ease the issue (i.e. taking brake assembly apart and lubing components, tighten/loosen cables etc)? Also, does consistent, daily use of the parking brake effect the calibration of the rear drum components that are causing the locking issue?

01-27-2009, 01:12 PM	#2
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Rear brakes locking up... Power brakes? Any changes to the system like addition of power booster, master cylinder? Does it do it everytime you stop or only when you have to make a sudden stop and really stomp on it.

01-27-2009, 01:18 PM	#3
ScottH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 8,187	Re: Rear brakes locking up... I would pull the drum off to see if the axle seal or wheel cylinder is leaking. Once the shoes get wet they lock up. Also if nothing found there consider replacing the rear brake hose. Very common for them to collapse internally. __________________ 1963 C10 swb fleetside 1966 GMC G1000 Handi-bus (future project) 1955 Chevy 2 dr. wagon

01-27-2009, 01:21 PM	#4
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Franklinton NC Posts: 1,309	Re: Rear brakes locking up...

01-27-2009, 01:21 PM	#5
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Rear brakes locking up... Forgot to add. Consistant use of the parking brake should not cause maladjustments. Actually it's a good thing to keep it from rusting and not working. Auto adjusting occurs when you are moving backwards and then quickly step on the brake. The rear stopping motion moves the brake "pawl" or lever downward to tighten the brakes if they are out of adjustment.

07-09-2009, 11:01 AM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,547	Re: Rear brakes locking up... I'd say that the first order of business would be to pull the rear drums and take a look inside to see what you have going or not going. Probably the biggest contributor is something on the lining as mentioned by ScottH. Leaking wheel seals, leaking wheel cylinders or just a lot of brake dust at times. If just one is grabbing the one on the opposite side may not be working right and letting that one do all the work also.

07-09-2009, 04:25 PM	#9
69GMCLonghorn Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Porter Ranch, CA Posts: 978	Re: Rear brakes locking up... Also, if the shoes are old, they can get hardened and cause a lock up issue. When I first bought my truck, I changed the shoes and it helped tremedously.

07-09-2009, 10:19 PM	#11
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Rear brakes locking up... Beware of the canadian made brake drums.(CARQUEST) I had 1 of the two new ones out of round that dragged. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

07-10-2009, 05:31 AM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Rear brakes locking up... the replacement drums are garbage. You are better odd looking in the junkyard for old ones that can be turned

07-10-2009, 07:47 AM	#13
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: Rear brakes locking up... I just fixed this problem on my S10 don't know it is a possibilty on these trucks. My right rear brake had a broken bolt(only has 2 1/4 bolts) that holds the backing plate to the axle tube. causing it to shift and put that wheel in a bind which in turn would cause my wheel to lock up. Drilled it out, replaced abolt and rebuilt the brakes back there, everythings good now. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff! Last edited by BarryB; 07-10-2009 at 07:48 AM.

07-10-2009, 01:57 PM	#15
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Rear brakes locking up... i had a 69 GMC C/1500 short fleet a few years ago... the dope smoking old man removed the adjusting arms out of all 4 wheels on mine. He told me he was too drunk to remember how they went back together. There was a lot of worrk on that truck done in this state of mind.



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