2002 LR brake problem

[tempfixit]

2002 Century Custom, 107K 3.1 engine

Friends car. She said the car was fine yesterday, today the left rear brake grabs immediately upon stepping on brake pedal at 5 mph. Screeches and then grabs, when backing up it squeaks a little but does not grab. Is there a common problem to look for??? I am thinking possibly as bad wheel bearing causing the problem. I have not inspected as of now as I am on my way to work.

thaks for any tips

[Airjer_]

I wonder if the wheel cylinder hasn't been leaking and soaked the shoes?

[tempfixit]

Thanks Airjer. that is what it actss like only with a noise with it, maybe the lining has come off the shoe. I'll let you know once I get it apart.

[tempfixit]

OK I got a chance to inspect the left rear brake today, wheel clyinder is not leaking, shoes have at least 75% lining left on them. I even backed off the star adjuster to see if that would make a difference without any luck. The wheel bearing seems to be OK but I've been mistaken about that before.

After driving it in the parking lot it started to do the same thing, noise almost sounds like someone is raking thier finger nails over a chalkboard and the brake grab locking the brake up. I did finally see that when I put the car in reverse and backed up a little the Service Engine Soon light, Anti-Lock light and the Trac Off lights came on. Turn the car off and restart and the lights stay off until I bak up then go forward until brake grabs then shift to reverse and the lights come on again.

I am thinking possiblity of a frozen emergency brake cable which I think I will discconnect to see if that makes a difference. May have to take to someone that can read the abs codes to fiquire out.

Any ideas Airjer or onyone else???


PS: She just bought the car about 2 weeks ago and never uses the emergency brake, don't know if the previous owner used it or not.

Thanks

[richtazz]

The brakes on these cars are not very good at releasing brake dust. When you pulled the drum off, did a lot of dust hit the ground? My wife's mini-van was doing the exact same thing (it uses the exact same drum brake set-up), and cleaning the dust out of the shoes and drums and reassembling them took car of the issue. You may even want to scuff the drums if they're shiny to give you a nice even surface. As the drum is spinning fast the dust is evenly distributed, then as it slows down the dust starts to tumble, gets between the shoe and drum in clumps and causes the grabbing and noise.

[Airjer_]

I would second the scuffing the shoes. Taking the glaze off might just do the trick.

[tempfixit]

Thanks for tips richtazz and Airjer.

Today I took some sandpaper and scuffed the shoes and cleaned the drum a little. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. Drove around rown for a little while with multiple stops at slow speed along with speed limit stops and no noises or locking of the brake.

thanks again

[richtazz]

You're very welcome, and thank you for the feedback. Not only do we love to hear we helped someone out, but it may help someone in the future doing a search for a similar issue.