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brake shoes froze up

Discussion in 'General Truck Info' started by TRAX and HORNS, Jan 13, 2010.

  1. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    Yesterday I had a dealer from Houston call and asked me what to do about rear brake shoes
    froze to drums. He had some duck hunters that this happen to.
    Being in Texas we dont have this very often. From what I understand they drove to the duck blind and left truck park for several hours. When they came back they started the truck and couldnt go anywhere. I assume they set the parking brake. Just guessing I dont think I'd set the park brake. Any of you northern guys have a solution to prevent this other than not setting park brake?
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2010
  2. fupabox

    fupabox Well-Known Member

    mine freeze once in a while when its really cold....I just let the brake off and on a few times and drive forward or reverse slowly till it un freezes.(usually 3-4 feet)..they warm up from friction quickly and don't refreeze again for a few days..it's not endemic to mini trucks though,I've had it happen on other vehicles.
     
  3. starpuss

    starpuss Member

    BFH will fix it. thats what i do on big trucks.

    one or 2 good hits on the rim will free it right up.
     
  4. IndianaJason

    IndianaJason Member

    This has happened to me before here in Indiana, and is common. Especially after driving thru deep snow, etc... then parking the truck.

    The best solution is to heat it up, either inside or with a heater directly on the brakes (beware of gas tank :eek: )

    The other alternative is what I did. Put the truck in low lock and drag the ass of the truck around on gravel or asphalt until it breaks loose. Might have to back up then go forward several times.

    Please note the word *break , not the smartest way to do it but it does work. If it doesnt break the ice loose it may break something else.

    I dont set my E-brake anymore when its really cold.
     
  5. vtg

    vtg Member

    I've experienced the same problem with mine and it's not an e-brake problem....It's the regular brakes freezing up. I'm sure that the e-brake would be a problem too if I used it in super cold conditions, but I haven't been brave enough to set it in those conditions. If you start driving the truck through deep snow from a cold start, the problem does not seem to arise because the deep snow keeps everything cold the whole time. But if you put a few miles on the truck in good conditions (allowing the brake drums to build up some heat), and then go into some deep snow and park it, they are gonna freeze up solid. My solution is to shut it down for about 5-15 minutes (depends how cold it is outside) and let the brakes partially freeze, but not to the point that they freeze solid. Then start the truck and break the brakes free (reverse seems to work better than first gear) and drive the truck a few feet and shut it off. Then it seems like it will not freeze up too bad the second go round. And if you are driving through lots of snow and intend to park the truck and leave it for a considerable while, be sure to find a good clean stretch of road and drive it at least 8-10 miles before you shut her down. That seems to melt all the ice away from the brakes. I'd guess that this would be less of a problem with mini trucks that have a low range because they would have a low enough gear to deal with the ice prob....however, it likely wouldn't be great for the powertrain to subject it to that sort of torture repeatedly.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2010
  6. starpuss

    starpuss Member

    I still say a good hit with a BFH works best. If you have mag or nice rims you may want to use a dead blow hammer.

    This works all the time!
     
  7. IndianaJason

    IndianaJason Member

    I agree.

    Thank God for BFH's , PB Blaster and duct tape.
     

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