Hi there

It's -12 here (nice) and I don't no if it's a coincidence, but my rear driver-side wheel is frozen when reversing. The wheel doesn't rotate and the tire is just pushed across the snow. The e-brake is off.

Forwards goes OK, but I'm not in a position to drive forwards without taking out the porch.

Has anyone experienced this? What's a likely remedy to free it up? How come it's frozen when reversing only?

Thanks.
Gav.

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1999 Expedition 5.4 XLT

 

More than likely the e-brake shoes are binding up in the reverse position. Short of taking it apart, I might force it out of the driveway and then drive with the parking brake held down; enough to heat things up and perhaps melt any snow/ice frozen up in there that is causing the reverse binding. How long to drive it that way? I have no idea, I would probably just take it apart.

 

Well, I got it out of the driveway and drove it for a few miles occasionally depressing the e-brake pedal.

This seems to have freed things up somewhat. Now I can reverse very slowly without it binding. If I reverse quickly, then that wheel starts to bind again.

I'm guessing it will be fine when it's fully defrosted down from -16 degrees C.

In these temperatures, I might avoid using the e-brake unless I'm on a hill.

Thanks for the advice!

Gav.

 

My Dad's Expy had that problem also. Here is what worked for us, since you know what tire is causing the problem, trace the e-brake cable back to that tire. You will see that it is connected to a little arm that it pulls to set the brakes. More than likely the arm will not be all the way back, so take a hammer and tap the arm backwards until you are able to back up without the brakes binding. This has worked fine so far and will buy you some time to get it fixed, but it's only temporary until you set the e-brake again.

 

my 2000 expy e-brake pads came apart, the shoe was laying in the drum and backing up seem to bind them up. also the linkage the e-brake cable connects to was "frozen" in place. if you have the brakes worked you should know that the 'linkage' is 2 parts. i thought they were riveted but there is just a pin and all the brake dust just built up. therefore the brake didn't always release.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

In my case, since the -16 celcius temperatures have reverted to +8 the e-brake is now back to normal.

Gav.