2nd Gen: Panic brake on highway, now rear drum drags?

[itgogitrev]

Hey guys, got a quick rear brake question.

My rear right brake is dragging badly after a 20 mile hwy drive this morning. During the morning drive, I had to jam on the brakes (semis switching lanes in front of me on highway to avoid a previous accident) and noticed the smell of cooking brakes. I didn't think anything of it since I was going downhill with a lot of semis, but I noticed that the smell wasn't going away after I got off the highway and my brake pedal fell to the floor a couple of times as the brakes were severely faded.

I pulled off the road and touched each wheel to check temps; all were normal except for the right rear wheel (almost hot). I could feel the heat off the drums from about 6 inches away.

Brakes were serviced about a year ago: new shoes, drums, hardware. I'm waiting for everything to cool down so I can pull it apart. So far, no puddles of fluid on the ground and no fluid on the wheels. I'm thinking it's 1 of 3 things.

- Bad wheel cylinder
- Bad axle seals
- Drum Shoes are hung up

Are there any distinctive clues to any of those 3 guess that might help me pinpoint the problem before I pull it apart? I'll eventually get it apart tonight, but I'd like to single out the problem as best as possible before I dig into it.

Thanks!
-Alex

 

[SV_Dude]

If your brake pedal falls to the floor then you could have an issue with your master cylinder.

As for the heat in your rear brake, since it's only that one then you may want to pull the wheel and drum off to take a look. You may need a new hardware kit in that one with new springs.

If the heat isn't brake related then it could be a wheel bearing going bad.

 

[Clone of the Mean]

I was going to say hardware. You might've sprung a spring. Or they're just full of brake dust, mud, crud.

Brake pedal to the floor sounds like hardware failure also. No fluid sounds like the cylinder is ok but something isn't lined up correctly anymore.
Good luck…..

 

[itgogitrev]

Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye out for all of these. Unfortunately, today was "Multiple Family Crises Day" and haven't had a moment to look at it. Here's hoping that I can look at it tomorrow!

 

[itgogitrev]

Finally tore into it. Wheel cylinder was wonkified. Replaced it, cleaned it up, did the same thing to the other side, good to go.

 

[85straight]

I like happy endingsarty:

 

[Hyde802]

Glad you got it figured out!

wonkified...I like that. haha.

 

[Clone of the Mean]

I shared a 72 baje w my kid for a few years. I hate drum brakes. With a passion….