Emergency Brake lockup while driving!!!

magic930 · 04-22-2005, 11:19 PM

Driving home tonight and I heard a big clunk and the rear wheels locked. Luckily I was only going about 30mph.
Was able to pull off the road into a parking lot with the smell of the brakes burning by revving hard and letting the engine pull aginst the brakes for 50ft...
Emergency brake handle is completely tight against the floor as if the cable is getting yanked from the other end. I wiggled it up and down and then it got completely loose. I was able to move the car with a foot pushing against the ground out the door. So then I started it up again and as soon as I moved about 1 foot the brakes locked again. Same story, parking brake handle super tight against the floor.

So now I am home but the car is stuck 30miles away. I looked thru the manual and it looks like I will have to remove the rear brake assembly to get to the "drum" parking brakes. What can I expect to find as the cause of failure? Anybody had this happen?

magic930 · 04-23-2005, 05:27 AM

Bumping this thread... hoping to get someones advice before I head out to try and take it apart.

Brother · 04-23-2005, 05:36 AM

does it lock when you go in reverse?

dean · 04-23-2005, 05:56 AM

Look for a broken spring or shoe retainer. It will be obvious.
Dean

Quicksilver · 04-23-2005, 06:07 AM

I would assume that this is only happening on one wheel. (How could it be both if it isn't the cable.)

Drum brakes use the rotation of the drum to assist in 'loading up' the brake shoes. Something has to have broken loose so the shoes are 'winding up' and wedging into the drum. I suspect that you could drive it in reverse but that won't get you home. (If you drive it 30 miles in reverse send us an incar video...)

Here is a pic of the exploded view...

Maybe you feel comfortable enough removing all the guts of the Ebrake on that side where it sits. It isn't that hard but I think there is no other choice but to flatbed it home.

Wayne

magic930 · 04-23-2005, 06:20 AM

thanks for the replys. I think your right about the reverse, last night I was able to roll it back and I thought everything was OK but then tried to go forward again and it locked. But I don't intend to drive it home backwards!, so I will be taking it apart with a limited toolset this morning. At least its a Saturday!

john walker's workshop · 04-23-2005, 07:51 AM

the #31 springs break a lot and can fall into the works.

magic930 · 04-23-2005, 08:29 AM

Well its "fixed" at least I removed the carnage and I can drive it home. Looks like the peg on the trailing arm broke off (the part that #37 slips onto) and both shoes are twisted and useless. Not sure what the cause was other than fatigue over the years? Can the aluminum on the trailing arm be welded?

Brother · 04-23-2005, 08:34 AM

you would be my hero if you drove it home in reverse for 30 miles.

Quicksilver · 04-23-2005, 03:32 PM

Aluminum is quite repairable. Just get someone good to TIG or MIG it and it should be good as new.