2001 Dodge Grand Caravan AWD left wheel locked

Yesterday I was testing the parking brakes and noticed that after I released the parking brakes, it felt like the parking brakes were still applied when driving (it make a loud scratching noise)

I went underneath the car and disconnected the parking brake wires and checked the rear tires...this is what I found:

-Right wheel spins freely...no pressure from the brake pads.
-Left wheel does not spin freely...but there is no pressure from the brake pads? (the parking brake line is already disconnected)

The left wheel is able to spin maybe 1/4 of an inch in both directions and than all I get is a clunk noise (like something is locking it - there is no pressure from the brake pads because I can move the wheel 1/4 of an inch in either direction)

Can not figure out what is causing the wheel to lock up or what is making that clunking noise. I do have the all wheel drive version grand caravan. Could it be the power transfer unit or wheel bearings? Any opinions?

Yesterday I was testing the parking brakes and noticed that after I released the parking brakes, it felt like the parking brakes were still applied when driving (it make a loud scratching noise)

I went underneath the car and disconnected the parking brake wires and checked the rear tires...this is what I found:

-Right wheel spins freely...no pressure from the brake pads.
-Left wheel does not spin freely...but there is no pressure from the brake pads? (the parking brake line is already disconnected)

The left wheel is able to spin maybe 1/4 of an inch in both directions and than all I get is a clunk noise (like something is locking it - there is no pressure from the brake pads because I can move the wheel 1/4 of an inch in either direction)

Can not figure out what is causing the wheel to lock up or what is making that clunking noise. I do have the all wheel drive version grand caravan. Could it be the power transfer unit or wheel bearings? Any opinions?


You have disc brakes and the parking brake pads are inside the rotor. You need to remove the rotor to access the parking brake. Look in the Online Service manuals, it will give procedure for removing rotors.

Good Luck

Thanks for the reply.

I thought the parking brake system just made use of the brake pads?

I am thinking it is one of the following:

A) wheel bearings
B) Rear carrier
C) overrunning clutch

Any opinions?

I am going to take off the rotors / brakes to check wheel bearings and see of the half shaft spins freely.

On brake systems that have rear brake drums the parking brake cables are connected to the brake shoes by another brace that applies the parking brake when pedal or lever is applied in the cab. This is not true on disc brakes, there is another set of shoes located inside the rotor which are applied when activated inside the cab. In order to get to them you need to remove rotor and hub assembly. Again look at the ONLINE SERVICE MANUAL in this forum it will help you.

Like the others have said, you have pads in the calipers for the service brakes and you have miniature shoes inside the drum portion of the rotor for the parking brakes. I can only assume that you have lifted the rear and tried to rotate the left wheel with the results you described. Your next step should be to remove the tire & rim, then unbolt and detached the caliper and pads. If the wheel turns freely now, the caliper is sticking. If not, the caliper is fine and something else is binding. Next, remove the rotor from the hub. If the hub spins freely now, the parking brake is binding and should be adjusted or the shoes replaced. If not, then something else is the problem. Next, unbolt the inside flange of the axle from the rear differential (6 bolts) and check for free rotation of the axle shaft and hub/bearing assembly. If it binds up now, the hub/bearing assembly is bad. If not, there may be a problem in the differential.

Let us know what you find and what you do.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I took off the rotor last night and found out that there are a set of brake pads inside the rotor for the parking brakes (just like everyone said).

It turns out that the parking brake actuator pin was stuck due to rust. I had to hammer the thing forward to disengage parking brakes and get the rotor off. Then I W40'ed the whole parking brake mechanism and adjusted the parking brake pads to not be so tight (could not put back rotor without adjusting).

I put everything back together and now everything spins freely. I am so glad it is not a drive train issue ($$$).

A happy ending :grinyes:

Glad you it fixed. Thanks for posting fix. Too many times fixes are not posted, people helping each other is what it is about.