Rear brakes locking up when rainy or cold outside?

Tribefan · Feb 5, 2008

I have a question. It seems like when it's wet outside, and sometimes when it's cold, the rear drum brakes on my FX4 want to lock up with very little pedal pressure for the first few minutes of driving. It also seems to happen when driving on the freeway for a while (15+ mins) and it's wet. Is this normal? Is this just a normal thing with rear drum brakes? I have never had this issue with any other vehicles I've owned before, so I just want to make sure I'm not driving on a possibly dangerous malfunction.

dogboy · Feb 5, 2008

Mine does it. I figure it is nothing to worry about becuase I know there are other poeple on here who have this problem too. I just ignore it and use the brakes lightly at first. Mine only does it for the first few stops, I have to go through a few stop signs before I am out of the nieghbor hood, so it is not a problem for me.

At freeway speeds though, that would probably be scary...

Joe400 · Feb 5, 2008

yeah.. i go through the same stop sign about twice a week, wheels locked up in the rear. especially when its cold out. its fine after i use them once or twice though

Jspafford · Feb 5, 2008

Common problem with rear drum brakes. The pads absorb moisture and swell. What used to need travel to touch are now sitting right on the drum. Hit the brakes and squeal thru the stop.

Happened a LOT on my 2001 Ranger. Not so much on my B2, I think because the rears on the Ranger actually worked well, but the brakes on the rear of the B2 don't self adjust well.

Moved to proper forum.

baadboy11 · Feb 5, 2008

yep happend on both my rangers, make a hell of a sound till they loosen/warm up though, little bit scary. :scare:

Tribefan · Feb 6, 2008

Thanks for the reassurance guys. Glad to know it's normal, I suppose. I wish it had rear discs now.

4x4junkie · Feb 7, 2008

Yeah, has something to do with the linings (OEM and Raybestos linings seem to do it. Not sure maybe Bendix might be better).

I deal with it by riding the parking brake for a block or two, then it's fine.

cargs · Feb 8, 2008

mine does the same. doesn't really matter what brand of linings i use.

gnardoom · Feb 8, 2008

Thats easy to fix. the alignment guy says its because the shoes arent adjusted right and they have to reach too far before hitting the drum and the moisture makes them bind and lock, old shoes or brakes in shitty condition will do it too. i used to skid down the hill at the end of my driveway every morning too until i put in new brakes and adjusted them proper it has not done it in 6 months no matter how wet they are.

4x4junkie · Feb 9, 2008

I've tried adjusting mine, no workie (I always made sure to grease the adjusters too when I did the brakes, they were working properly each time I checked them).

gnardoom · Feb 9, 2008

try new shoes, good ones have the lining riveted on, not glued. I got mine from ford since shoes are cheap to begin with. if you have new shoes then I dont know what it is, maybe drums

Trigger · Feb 14, 2008

My right front wheel locks up all the time when it rains, I believe mine is from a warped rotor. My caliper on that brake is cocked and I can not straighten it, so I figure warped! I ordered to rotors from the zone and will get them today so I'll put them on this weekend and see what happens.

metalmacguyver · Feb 14, 2008

Trigger said:
My right front wheel locks up all the time when it rains, I believe mine is from a warped rotor. My caliper on that brake is cocked and I can not straighten it, so I figure warped! I ordered to rotors from the zone and will get them today so I'll put them on this weekend and see what happens.

if the caliper is not inline with the rotor, new rotors is not going to solve the problem.

Sasquatch_Ryda · Feb 15, 2008

gnardoom said:
try new shoes, good ones have the lining riveted on, not glued. I got mine from ford since shoes are cheap to begin with. if you have new shoes then I dont know what it is, maybe drums

Its is due to a moisture problem, with ford shoes or otherwise. They absorb moisture overnight and swell a bit, causing them to lock up on the first couple applications till the heat dissipates the moisture. We see it all the time in our climate at the dealership i wrench at.

Trigger · Feb 15, 2008

metalmacguyver said:
if the caliper is not inline with the rotor, new rotors is not going to solve the problem.

Like I said I cannot get the caliper inline and seeing how it's a NEW caliper the next step is to change the rotor.

Rear brakes locking up when rainy or cold outside?

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