Why do my rear drum brakes lock up?

Why do my rear drum brakes lock up?

One of the most common causes of one or two wheel lockup on drum brake equipped vehicles is the service and/or parking brake adjustment. If the parking brake system is not de-adjusted properly before the brake shoes are adjusted it will cause the rear brakes to engage too soon.

How do I know if my rear drum brakes are going bad?

One of the first symptoms of bad or failing drum brakes is unusual brake pedal feel. If the brake drums are worn excessively they can cause vibrations that may be felt in the pedal. Worn drums may also cause shuddering or pulsating that will become noticeable once you step on the pedal.

What would cause drum brakes to stick?

If the parking brake cable is rusted, kinked, or otherwise damaged, the rear brake shoe will not return when the parking brake is released, causing the rear shoe to drag on the drum.

What causes a brake caliper to not release?

Just like with the master cylinder not releasing causing the brake drag, a caliper not releasing and staying applied can do the same thing. This is usually caused by a bent caliper mounting bracket or severely warped rotors and pads. To correct, visually inspect the alignment between the caliper and rotor.

Is it OK to drive with a sticking caliper?

Driving with a stuck caliper will quickly wear and damage the brakes. Driving with severely worn or damaged brakes is not safe. Stuck closed and the brake will overheat. It’s likely to start a fire and cause major damage.

Can a seized brake caliper catch fire?

When friction is involved heat will accompany it. If the caliper is binding or seized there is a potential for a fire to occur, but there will be signs of this problem before a catastrophe happens.

How does a caliper seized up?

When brakes seize it can be because the piston becomes stuck within the caliper, the pads become stuck to the disc, or on single-piston calipers the slide pins can seize.