Brake problems=locking up
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Fort Nelson B.C.
Brake problems=locking up
Just the last couple of weeks I have been noticing my front brakes have been locking up. I know you are probably gonna say 'set them up' but listen...When the truck is moving along and no sharp turns are made it doesn't happen. When I do a 2 point turn it seems they lock up tight enough I sit there doing brake stands. I was driving around town to take my son to a store and things worked fine. I sat there idling for 5 minutes, went to back up and the tires just spin. Once I got going it seemed to loosen up a bit. Another day I drove 35 miles on the highway and had no problem until I turned on to a back road to hunt. When I did a 2 point turn the brakes locked up enough I had to use 4x4 to get off the road. I shut the truck off and 15 minutes later put the clutch in to start it up and the thing started to coast down the road. It seems if I shut it off so the brake booster pressures down everything is fine. I really notice it when I have to make a real sharp turn. If I just turn out of my drive way and go to work where the turns are more gradual I don't have an issue. Could it be the power brake system???
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
From: SOUTH CAROLINA
my booster did that to me when i used to have drum brakes and it was drawing so much vacuum it was actually drawing the piston in the master cyclinder and locking my brakes down. very hard pedal also. i got tired of it and disconnected it. didnt have the money at the time for a new setup. didnt care to see if i had it hooked up to the wrong vacuum outlet on the intake either. just wanted it to go away.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: Huntersville
There is an adjustment on the rod that goes from the master cylinder to the vacuum can. If it's set up too tight, sometimes it can cause problems such as sticky brakes. Have you replaced or removed the master cylinder lately?
Clint
Clint
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Fort Nelson B.C.
No I haven't replaced anything on it yet. I have been driving it daily for almost 4 months. I did top up the brake fluid though, the one resevoir was low, and that was nearly a month ago when the locking up started. Yeah I know what you mean by the hard pedal... I can breath on it and the truck screaches to a halt. There is no movement to it when this starts to happen. I'll try adjusting the rod I guess and see if that helps.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 0
From: nevada
another solution
Had that prob a few yrs ago too. After driving 150 highway miles, I stopped for a soda, and upon leaving thought truck was kind of stuck in the sand I had stopped in. Got back on the road, and drove another 50 m. When I got to town I saw fire coming out of the wheel well, and got to a stop. Threw some water on it to cool it off and made it the last 2 miles to home. Next day I went to parts store and bought 4 new brake hardware kits. That rear brake had got so hot that it melted the seal and let some oil run out and it hit that hot metal and flared. It was dark and I saw the flames flickering against the side of a house as I drove by. I thought "What idiot is barbecuing out here in the winter at midnite?" Anyhow, those old springs were awful weak compared to the new ones. No probs after changing that 30 yr old brake hardware.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Fort Nelson B.C.
Well the problem has been found! It was the brake booster.The diaghram inside was torn away so the vacuum wasn't being distributed evenly. Changed that out and no more problem with left front tire locking up.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
Glad you found your problem. I just wanted to share this story. I had a similar problem years ago with a Nissan pickup. One of the U-joints on the drive shaft was shot (no bearings) and the shaft would **** in there in such a way that it would bind and the truck wouldn't move.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sparky83
Clutch, Transmission, Differential, Axle & Transfer Case
7
Jan 9, 2017 10:07 PM
Danielcox756
Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Tires, & Wheels
3
Jan 27, 2016 06:42 AM
