XJ will drive in reverse but not forward!

[jeepxj777]

Basically I am trying to figure out what my new "Clunk" sound is and why my car will only drive in reverse and not forward.......So I fixed my CV joints about 2 weeks ago and everything has been running great with my '91 jeep cherokee until tonight. I am turing out of my alley when I hear a huge "clunk". I stopped, thought what the heck was that. Put it in reverse and drove back (no clunk), put it back in drive and went forward, big clunk again! Put it back in reverse (again no sound)...drive forward again for a few feet then clunk. Reverse again, no clunk, then when I tried to go forward again my jeep wouldn't even move (and yes I did NOT have the emergency brake on). It felt as if I were stepping on the brakes and gas at the same time. Like you could feel that it wanted to go forward but something was holding it back. ANY IDEAS??? I was told that my rear brakes needed work a while back but that it was nothing serious. Could the rear brakes have failed somehow and locked up?? I can drive it in reverse just not forward which makes me think its not the brakes. Also their is some noise coming from them while it is being driven backwards (not a clunking noise though). THANKS for anyones input, I am not knowing where to begin on this and am sooo sick of mechanics trying to rip me off!

It's one thing right after another with my rust bucket!

[discnik]

I would pull the rear drums and take a look at your rear brakes. See if any of the springs or shoe retaining pins have come loose or broken.

REMEMBER; Use proper jacking and support devices when lifting a vehicle to avoid serious injury !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by discnik

I would pull the rear drums and take a look at your rear brakes. See if any of the springs or shoe retaining pins have come loose or broken.

I agree.

Just to clarify: Drum brakes (like the ones on your rear axle) can do this going forward but not backwards because of their design.

Drum brakes have a self-energizing effect. When you apply the brakes, the brake shoes are designed to use some of the rotational energy that is being absobed to press the shoes more firmly into the drums.

In essence, this works like a mechanical brake booster, but only works when moving forward and not reverse.

If your brake retainer springs are weak or broken, the brake shoes fall on the drums and this brake booster effect is essentially applying the brakes without you touching the brake pedal and only when you move forward

[jeepxj777]

Will do, THANKS!! How hard is it to fiddle with the rear brakes?? I can do most stuff on my car (new water pump, CV joints, etc..) but have never even looked at my rear brakes. Anyone know of a good tech website??