After I got done dealing with a battery problem this morning (unrelated, just had dirty contacts), I got back in my truck to finally start my errands, started it up, pushed in the clutch, put it in reverse, and the truck woudnt start rolling backwards (i have a sloped driveway), so I give it a little gas and some clutch and it still wouldnt. it acted as if the parkin brake was still engaged. i checked the assembly under the truck and it was not tight, as if it were engaged, and when i moved it (in the manner that pulling the handle does) i could see the cables on the rear axle moving like they should. i still tried and nothing. i ended up giving it a lot of gas and feathering the clutch a lot (as if i was trying to get over a curb in the parking lot head-on without any rolling room) and something made a small pop and suddenly it rolled just fine. everything acts fine while driving too. my thinking is that the parking brake could have just been stuck and got popped free by the torque of the engine/axle. how common would that be? it was after a heavy rain and my truck was muddy (maybe dirt got lodged somewhere...but where?) if that makes a difference. thanks

 

That happens to my friends 85 yota if he put the parking brake on then takes it off and goes in reverse it locks up like that, but if he goes forward it will unlock the drums and it will be fine. when is the last time u check/replaced the brake shoes? u might need new ones.

 

Check your rear brake shoe's like Firefightertaco said. I have had shoes stick{rust} to the rear drums after sitting for a couple of days. It acted the same way, would not roll, then when you gas it or get a bump from a buddys truck, they break free. The metallic, semi-metallic shoes seem to be more prone to this than the fiber/abestos lined ones.

1eye

 

good to know that its *somewhat* common. nothing bad happened this time, but in retrospect I shouldnt have put that much strain on it to break it loose, in case it was something else. i've never done any rear brake (parking or regular) work myself on this truck and ive had it for a year. maybe i should do that next time i get a chance...check out the parking brake that is.

 

also check all the springs in the drums,

for what its worth, i would replace them as they should be replaced everytime you do the rear brakes.

 

I've had the same thing happen to me before after wheeling, the drums were covered in mud, and it froze my parking brake. I just gave it alot of gas then took it to the pressure washer.

 

that happens with out HEMMT's all the time too

 

when you apply the brakes the brake assembaly rotates inside the drum slightly to the way the rotor is moving. next time you leave your drive way pull forward about an inch, or any amount at all and it should release he brakes.

new springs, mainly the retainer springs, should fix this problem.
they are cheap, dont worry just head down to your local napa and get good ones.

also check to make sure your retaining pins arent bent at all.

 

Aaahh... the "good ol days" of going down a hardball road full of potholes and the damn CTIS on the HEMMT is broken and the tires are stuck at squishy "off road" inflation level so you and your co-driver just about puke after about 70 miles of it...... yep miss those HEMMT's!

James

Sorry.. back on topic..