Brakes feel like they are hanging up

[GMWIGGS]

I'm having an issue with my brakes.

They feel like they are partially hanging up. I can feel it dragging sometimes when accelerating and decelerating. I can stop and back up a couple of feet and feel something let go. I recently replaced my front brake pads but didn't do the rear. I'm going to get some brake shoes today and change the back brakes.

Other that the back brakes being worn badly and possibly hanging up, any suggestions on what else could cause it?

 

[98 ranger xlt]

Warped drums?

 

[cocoasranger]

May be the front calipers. To check this, drive the truck till it drags, then stop and jack up each front wheel and try to spin it. If they are seized you will barely be able to turn them. If this problem was only since the pads were put on, it's likely this may be the problem.

 

[Tedybear]

Very possible. At times when you retract the piston back into the caliper the seals crap. They can either fail outright and lock up the wheel...or drag/release depending on heat and the like.

It's also likely that one of the rear brakes either has/had a leaky wheel cylinder or busted retaining hardware. Both would cause random brake dragging. It's well worth your time to pull the drums...hose the snot out of the linings/hardware with brake cleaner (DO NOT BREATH IN BRAKE DUST!!) Wheel cylinders can be checked by just pealing the dust boot a touch, and seeing if fluid comes out. (which is of course..bad)

S-

sidebar note edit: If you replace the shoes? Also spend the money on new hardware and adjuster kits...Yeah it can throw more $$ at it...but I've never ever recommended re-using old hardware. Once the heat takes it's toll on the parts? Nothing works as it should.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

This seems like a common problem (at least for me) I've had both calipers lock up on my '92 Ranger, one lock up on my '90 Ranger, and one lock up on my '89 BII, and I think my '91 Explorer is doing it too...

 

[GMWIGGS]

Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions. I have found the problem. One of the brake pads in the rear drums had become disconnected from the shoe! It was hanging up inside the drum and dragging against it. I took the rear wheel off and when I grabbed the drum it burnt my hands!

I cleaned it all out and replaced the brake shoes. Didn't turn the drums or replace the hardware inside, I know I need to do that though. Now I have another problem, I cant get the drum off the other side! I'll make a new thread on that one, its kicking my ass!

 

[Tedybear]

Probably either the shoes are adjusted to tight, or there is a rust ridge built up on the hub.

To release the shoes, remove the dust rubber boot, or (if it's never been done before..the stamped steel bit covering the adjuster access)

Insert a small screwdriver and press against the adjuster lever. Once the adjuster lever is away from the star wheel adjuster? You can use another screwdriver or brake spoon to reverse-rotate the star wheel to back off the shoes until it's released enough for the drum to come off.

In the case of it being rusted to the hub? Hose the hub area, and spray into the small gap with the lug studs are sticking out. Let it sit for a short while and then nail the flat areas between the studs with a dead blow hammer. That will actually 'rattle' the PB blaster (best thing for rusted parts...PB blaster) into smaller cracks and it breaks the rust bond pretty well.

If it still won't budge, and it's free-spinning so you know the shoes are not draggin'? Take a couple of smaller pry bars and carefully!!!!!! wedge them between the backing plate and the drum. Put a small amount of pressure on the bars...and then smack it a few more times with the dead blow hammer between the lug studs. (mine was rusted pretty solid...and took quite a bit of careful prying and hammer shots before it broke free) I say use care, because you do not want to deform the backing plate...use your best judgement--you'll be able to feel the plate if it starts to deform.

Now if your aim sucks as bad as mine does while using the hammer? You can thread some lug nuts on the studs to protect them from the random hammer misses.

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