98 brake problem=

[jamesmetairie]

98 base( no ABS ) lumina with 163,000 miles.
today i parked in position at the gas pump. i engaged the emergency brake .
then decided i needed to back up a little. did it with the emergency brake engaged.heard some clunking noises.
later when i drove along the road it seemed that the brakes were very slightly engaged as i gave it the gas pedal.
as i took my foot off the gas pedal it seemed to slow down quicker than usual.
when i got home and parked i noticed the rear brake lights were on. i got in the car and played with the brakes in drive and reverse several times. also i put on and off the emergency brake many times.
the brake lights went out.
any idea,s will be appreciated.

[aleekat]

Sounds like you may have de-laminated a shoe in the drum. Jack the car up. In neural, spin the back tires. May narrow down which one it is.

[gmtech1]

Check for binding park brake cables.

[jamesmetairie]

today it doesn,t feel like the brake is dragging. but when i use the brakes all 3 brake lights sometimes don,t go off when i let go of the pedal. then i tap the pedal a few times and the brake lights go off.

[gmtech1]

I think this model uses two brake lamp switchs, one for the CHMSL (middle lamp) and one for two outside lamps. Check the adjustment of the switches at the brake pedal. They should both the fully compressed when the pedal is released.

[Tech II]

The brake lights seem to be a switch problem.....

As for the rears, jack up the rears, and see if each wheel easily rotates....then apply e-brake...see if both wheels are locked.....now release the e-brake and try to move both wheels.......do they both easily move or is one or both hard to move or needs some effort to move it? If yes, check the brake cables...if ok, the drums have to come off....

[jamesmetairie]

new brake light switch installed. so far so good.