2005 Manual Transmission 2 wheel drive Vibe. My car has been parked for too long. When I put it in gear it moves 1/2” and then won’t move but the rear rises up like the brakes are on. I believe the rear drum brakes are seized up as I just replaced the front brake pads & rotors. Pulling on the parking brake lever gets tighter but doesn’t free it up. I’ve got the passenger wheel off & can’t get the drum opened up. It moves if I pry it but I suspect the brakes are stuck in the engaged position. I’ve doused it with PB Blaster, hammered on the tire with a mallet, hit the hub with a rubber mallet, tried hammering the tire from behind, used a torch, nada. The hub does not turn when I grab it with two hands.
From what I can see, there’s a hydraulic line that feeds into the hub from the back and a mechanical cable that terminates inside the hub with an aluminum end that doesn’t seem to be adjustable or have any way of disengaging manually.
Any help would be appreciated, I spent the better part of the day trying to get it apart. Oh, and I threaded two M8x1.25 bolts into the holes. They created resistance then made a popping noise but didn’t free the drum casing so I stopped before doing more damage. It seems to be stuck at one point at the bottom of the hub.
Rear Drum Brake Stuck, Help Please!
Re: Rear Drum Brake Stuck, Help Please!
welcome to genvibe
Are both rear wheels locked up or is just the passenger side? If both, then maybe the parking brake cable isn't releasing, which could be a problem inside the drum, or the cable itself
Sometimes you have to de-adjust the self adjuster in the drum to get the drum off. Its no fun, crawl under the car and work semi blind through a tiny hole after you pull the rubber plug, and since it has to be done from under the car, you have to be absolutely sure whatever you lifted the car with is stable and secure, or you could die
the diagram shows the perspective looking from under the car looking out, the photo is from the outside looking in.
Drum brakes have a lot of springs and things, so take lots of pics before you disassemble any of them so you have a reference on how it all goes back together.
Are both rear wheels locked up or is just the passenger side? If both, then maybe the parking brake cable isn't releasing, which could be a problem inside the drum, or the cable itself
Sometimes you have to de-adjust the self adjuster in the drum to get the drum off. Its no fun, crawl under the car and work semi blind through a tiny hole after you pull the rubber plug, and since it has to be done from under the car, you have to be absolutely sure whatever you lifted the car with is stable and secure, or you could die
- drumadj.jpg (117.28 KiB) Viewed 615 times
Drum brakes have a lot of springs and things, so take lots of pics before you disassemble any of them so you have a reference on how it all goes back together.