Ok, I have a 96 Pontiac Sunifre SE. Just the other day I left to work and when i hit the brake the rear just locked up. I would just tap the break and it would lock up the rear. I took it back home and checked the fluid, cleaned the sensors checked the wires and inspected the drums but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything was put on new not to long ago for inspection. Well I took it out again and it did the same thing. I kept driving and got to the next stop sign and it worked fine from there on. After sitting for a few hours i took it out again and it locked up the rear once again. What i noticed is that once i drive say over 30 mph and hit the break it works fine any thing under thirty on a cold start locks up the rear. What could be the problem? The whole break system was replaced a few months ago and worked fine until now.
Have you tried setting the self adjusters? Just back up in reverse and then come to a complete stop two separate times.
I'd try that before even pulling the drums off.
it was a cold day..perhaps damp?? It is a common thing with rear drums for the rear drums to lock up till they warm up..i usually just drag the brakes for a few seconds as im leaving to get a little heat in them..then they usually work fine..
KFLO wrote:Have you tried setting the self adjusters? Just back up in reverse and then come to a complete stop two separate times.
I'd try that before even pulling the drums off.
Yes, I tried that before taking the drums off with no luck. I also adjusted them manually as well. The only thing that i dont think were replaced on the rear was the hardware. Could replacing the hardware possibly help?
Philly D wrote:it was a cold day..perhaps damp?? ..
The thing is the day it started it was in the 80's and no rain for days. Even if that was the case it shouldnt be locking up this bad.
My Z24 has been a long time victim of this too, I usually just do the self adjusting when I back out of my spot every morning and that seems to curb the occurrences of lock up.
mine does it too and ive replaced eveything (backing plate, drum, wheel cylender, shoes, springs) everything and it still does it....
my 99 was doing it and i got it fixed. Not sure what fixed it the first time but and sprayed pb-blaster on both e-brake cables and worked the e-brake like 40 times just to rule that out. And still did it so then i went and baught new drums which was like 30 bux's for both and new shoes, and hardware kit. When i tore the brake shoes off the two springs on the end of the the straight metal piece i believe was for the ebrake were broke. Then all the others were weak. Put everything back together lubing all the points and then the self adjuster and been fine since tell about a month ago i had a problem with the right one locking up when damp outside and come to find out my hub was out of round. Put a new one and been fine. But lub the brake cables just to be sure. The reason i changed the drums was they were out of round and the easiest was i found to tell if they are is take and pull on the e-brake tell it starts cathing while doing like 5mph or so. Hold the lever in the same spot with the button pushed in and see if it trys to pull the lever down in certian spots or is tighter some places. Hope that helps also the total price for drums, shoes and hardware kit was like 50 bux's. Also when it rains or is damp out i don't have anymore problems even grabbing a lil hard just a lil screech from rusting and been fine since last summer.
i have had the same problem on mine. i just take off the drums and clean the inside
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it is usually an adjustment issue. sounds like your shoes are to far away from your drums. i would try adjusting them closer.
or do a rear disc swap
