Brake help

[dashhho]

My 2005 B4000 is still kinda new to me. The other day the brakes were very touchy at slow speeds, almost no pressure applied to the pedal and they felt like they wanted to lock up instantly. After leaving from some stop signs the fronts made a little noise when taking off, sounds like they are locking up? I'm thinking the front calipers might be siezing up?

The weathers been pretty rough here recently. The hwys been wet as they been dumping sand/salt on it. I havent been good at washing the mess off before it all freezes on my truck overnight. Will take it for a good hot steamy bath tomorrow and investigate further.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Kinda sounds like either caliper pistons or slide pins for the calipers

 

[rumblecloud]

Agreed. If the bath doesn't help, you may want to pull the wheels/tires for a visual and BrakeClean them. Then if you're so inclined pull 'em apart and apply some slippery stuff to the slide pins.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would think on a new to you vehicle... giving the entire brake system a good inspection is really the best idea.

I think if if it were a sticky caliper or slide... it would feel as if the brakes were applied slightly. Most times you can actually feel the drag or notice the vehicle doesn't roll when it should. Sometimes it's pretty subtle.

I will also say that in my experience with these little trucks... the rear is very susceptible to looking up. It happens quick... and is a wake up call when it happens.

There is an older service bulletin that I believe states to seal up any water intrusion from entering the drum from the backing plates.

I personally believe it also has a bunch to do with the rear brake adjustment. The further out of adjustment they are (loose) the more likely you will lock up the rear brakes. I know it doesn't seem to make sense... but if you think about both rear shoes being pushed out equally by the wheel cylinder... both shoes leave the brake anchor pin. When the brake shoes finally touch the drum... the brakes self energize. This causes the secondary shoe to be forced back to the anchor pin and displacing the the brake fluid that now has to move... applying the force back onto the primary shoe... which instantly locks the brakes up.

I always run my rear brakes favoring the tighter side of the adjustment.

 

[dashhho]

Thanks for the advice. I'll take it for a bath and see if I can find some pavement after and get it in reverse and do some starts and stops. Then ill take it home and pull the tires off.

If the rears have issues locking up and its from water intrusion I'm very certain this could be the issue as Gump said. I just did a 300km trip and the truck got covered in road salt/water. I almost put myself through the windshield the next morning when I went to stop at the end of the driveway!!

 

[sgtsandman]

If the slider pins look good and the rear brakes check out, check to see if your parking brake cables might be hanging up. The end seals or the cable housing eventually lets water in and the cables can freeze up. One way to check that is to try touching your wheels near the lug nuts. If it's hot, your brakes are dragging because the cables aren't properly releasing.