Brakes locking up after parking

vicelore Officially Full-On Dubber

254 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 8 Oct 2012, 12:40 pm

#925692

Hey guys.

Well iv been DDing the Dub at the moment as my other cars off the road for a engine conversion.

Hadnt started it in 2 months till last night.. Started up ok after charging the battery. But when i went to reverse it wouldnt move.. It was like the hand break was on.. AS in the car lifted up.. when trying to move..

After a few goes it let go and i could drive normally..

Woke up this morninng and the same thing.. Something Grabbing when pulling away and again its happened at lunch today..

I was thinking it would be some type of buildup on the drums or something that would be worn off after driving it today..

Does this sound correct ? it seems to drive fine when iv got it moving.. including when taking off from the lights etc.. No locking up there.

Cheers Vice

Currently driving my 1st VW.. 67 type 3 1600..And loving it..

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 8 Oct 2012, 4:38 pm

#925728

Sounds like something in your brakes needs freeing up, more specifically in the handbrake circuit. See if it is still seized next time it has been parked for a while. If so jack up the back and see if it's one or both wheels.

If It's both that seem seized, it could be something to do with the cable getting jammed. If it's one wheel, it is prob the mechanism on that wheel that might just need a clean and lube.

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 8 Oct 2012, 4:55 pm

#925733

I wouldn't want to take any chances with brakes. The best thing to do is jack it up, take off both wheels and brake drums and have a good look in there. You should soon be able to spot what the problem is. If it's leaking fluid from the wheel cylinders then you'll need to rebuild or replace them. If it was just rust then I don't think it should be re-jamming itself every time you park it.

1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 8 Oct 2012, 7:47 pm

#925791

^ pretty much what I was thinking. Shoes swell up if there's fluid on them and get sticky.

"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 8 Oct 2012, 11:58 pm

#925854

Yep, the gummy residue from leaking fluid and brake dust mixing into a paste can cause sticking, or as stated, the handbrake cables could be siezing in the bowden tubes as many mechanics don't prelube them there upon installation.

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

vicelore Officially Full-On Dubber

254 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 9 Oct 2012, 6:43 am

#925872

OK so parked it all night without the handbrake and it started fine this morning.. SO im putting it down to the handbrake.. This makes sense to me as its prob rusty and not worn off as iv only used the handbrake when parked (three times ).. not when driving to free it all off ??

Would a couple of light pulls on it at low speed wear off any residue and fix it ? or does it sound more like a dry cable ?

Cheers Vice.

Currently driving my 1st VW.. 67 type 3 1600..And loving it..

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 9 Oct 2012, 8:04 am

#925888

Can't answer the above as the handbrake is always going to make the shoes contact the drum but the sticking problem still needs to be proven whats causing it. For me, after a rethink, if it was the cables it would do it anytime you use the hanbrake where as your seems to be once left for a while. My pick, very leaky rear wheel cylinders.

ps 'a couple of light pulls on it at low speed wear off any residue ' don't you think using the brakes is going to do the same thing?

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

vicelore Officially Full-On Dubber

254 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 9 Oct 2012, 8:50 am

#925892

Fair point man..

Been a while since iv worked on the Dub and couldn't remember if there was a separate part for the handbrake.

Currently driving my 1st VW.. 67 type 3 1600..And loving it..

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 Oct 2012, 10:38 am

#925899

vicelore wrote:OK so parked it all night without the handbrake and it started fine this morning.. SO im putting it down to the handbrake.. This makes sense to me as its prob rusty and not worn off as iv only used the handbrake when parked (three times ).. not when driving to free it all off ??

Would a couple of light pulls on it at low speed wear off any residue and fix it ? or does it sound more like a dry cable ?

Cheers Vice.

the rear brakes shoes should be lightly touching the drums all the time unless they are out of adjustment..
a quick look under the back wheels/tyres should show the brake fluid... usually..
unless it is a very small leak...??

You can buy a product called BRAKLEEN which is made to clean brake fluid off brake linings..
after the leak has been fixed..

BUT
My Guess is a spring was worn thru allowing the brake shoes to stay rubbing as there isn't any spring tension to pull them back.. the springs can wear thru and break off..
or a pin has worn thru.. or clip come off??

as all those parts are available in a repair kit now...
springs and pins..

If its both sides... I have no idea how that can happen????

You need to take those rear brake drums off..

cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 9 Oct 2012, 11:26 am

#925903

Feel free to call me Smeds, 0488 089 456 we can have a look

"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷

vicelore Officially Full-On Dubber

254 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 9 Oct 2012, 12:05 pm

#925909

Dont worry mate havent lost your number and have been meaning to come around for a beer..

Now the dubs my DD ill have to come up and see ya..

I see dotv is on again soon too.. We gonna get a crew together ?

OH.. have a read through my Suby engine conversion too.. Im sure ull like it 🙂

http://www.subyclub.com/index.php/topic/4955-2000-liberty-sedan-sti-conversion/page__st__360

Currently driving my 1st VW.. 67 type 3 1600..And loving it..

ratty 63 Custom Title Time!

1,083 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 12 Oct 2012, 8:45 pm

#926486

I'll put money on leaking wheel cylinders - I have had exactly the same thing happen recently in two of my VW's.

R 🙂

40hp, 6V and ...er... slowly making improvements 😂

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Founding member of the Gold Coast Dub Club Inc. 🙂

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 13 Oct 2012, 9:05 pm

#926643

I have had this happen few time, the rear shoes rusted to the drum surface from condensation coz I left the hand brake on too long over the winter.

whacked the rear backing plates with a soft mallet and they all came free straight away. No amount of revving and dropping the clutch would move it otherwise, I know all too well about that. 😂

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 13 Oct 2012, 9:11 pm

#926644

68AutoBug wrote:
vicelore wrote:OK so parked it all night without the handbrake and it started fine this morning.. SO im putting it down to the handbrake.. This makes sense to me as its prob rusty and not worn off as iv only used the handbrake when parked (three times ).. not when driving to free it all off ??

Would a couple of light pulls on it at low speed wear off any residue and fix it ? or does it sound more like a dry cable ?

Cheers Vice.
the rear brakes shoes should be lightly touching the drums all the time unless they are out of adjustment..
a quick look under the back wheels/tyres should show the brake fluid... usually..
unless it is a very small leak...??

You can buy a product called BRAKLEEN which is made to clean brake fluid off brake linings..
after the leak has been fixed..

BUTMy Guess is a spring was worn thru allowing the brake shoes to stay rubbing as there isn't any spring tension to pull them back.. the springs can wear thru and break off..
or a pin has worn thru.. or clip come off??

as all those parts are available in a repair kit now...
springs and pins..

If its both sides... I have no idea how that can happen????

You need to take those rear brake drums off..

cheers

LEE

That is a very valid point there Lee.

if it still randomly locks itself without the hand brake on then I would most certainly say its that.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE