Brakes locking up after parking

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

R 🙂

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. 😂

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.