This truck is new to me so I'm still trying to figure it out (it's a 1999 Mazda B4000 with 100K on it -- got it a week ago). It snowed this morning, but quickly melted when the sun came out. It's about 45 degrees this afternoon. While going out for lunch I noticed, while traveling through a parking lot at slow speeds, that when I put on my brakes a few times they (the rear brakes) grabbed a little and even caused the tires to skid briefly a few times -- kind of like I was hitting the brakes a little. After awhile of moving around they seemed to warm up and applying the brakes was normal again.

But, later on, the truck did the same thing. I noticed, while holding the brake on while waiting in a drive-thru line, the brakes kind of did not want to release from the hold they were in when I let off the brake pedal. They did, but only after there was a muted "thunk" in the rear of the truck.

Everything was fine yesterday but it was warmer, too. What do you think is going on?

Thanks!

 

rear drum brakes get grabby when they get damp. you might have other issues and want to pop off the drum to look but most likely its just damp drums

 

They also may need adjustment. When not properly adjusted you have greater than normal pedal travel and they do get "grabby" as the tops push out and contact more than the bottoms when out of adjustment. I think it kind of "wedges" the shoe in.

 

Last week, when I had the truck inspected for license and registration, the truck failed because the rear brakes were lousy. I then had to have the brakes "adjusted" so it would pass inspection -- which it did. They told me I have about three months left in the brakes before they need to be replaced. I suspect it's all weather related because we just got some rain and show and colder temperatures today.

 

Yes, but you'll find unworn and properly adjust brakes don't do it. Mine don't. But when worn and out of adjustment they do -- they just do it MORE when wet.