Hi,

My son just bought a 1995 Ranger manual with v6. He parked it in the school lot and after school it would not go forward. It could back up but not go forward.

I went to look at it. Jacked up the rear end and both tires would turn by hand when in the air. Although I noticed that when I turned one wheel the other did not move. The opposite tire should spin in the opposite direction from what I have seen for normal differential operation.

Put it on the ground and tried to drive. Would not move. If we applied lots of power the right tire would begin to spin some.

We towed it forward a few feet and the left rear tire just skidded on the ground and did not turn at all.

Drove it in reverse a couple blocks to his house. At his house it rolled forward when we stopped in the drive. So we tried to go forward and it drove a couple of times around the block.

Next morning he backed out of the drive and then it would not go forward. He backed around the block then it would drive forward. He parked it back in the drive without any further driving.

I am very mechanical but have not spent any time yet on serious drivetrain matters. Any guidance on possible issues will be helpful.

Thanks

 

Did the truck feel like it wanted to go forward? Rangers have a problem with the rear drum brakes locking up due to cold weather and moisture.

 

I thought it felt like it wanted to move forward. It flet like it was parked against a wall. When we pet out on the clutch it would take up the free play in the drive train but not go.

Because I could move the tires by hand when I had it jakced up in the air I thought it might not be the brakes.

My son told me he had been setting the parking brake each time he parked it. Also we have just had a lot of rain from the left overs of hurricane Lowel the day it started.

Can I just loosen the parking brake adjustment or is the brake lockup being caused from some other part of the system?

 

I know that on my truck you can't adjust the rear brakes. They are self adjusting. I'm not sure about the earlier models. Also I don't know what the remedy is for the problem. I have never experienced a lockup I just know the symptoms.

 

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ght=rear+brake
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ighlight=drums

 

either one of the cables for the rear brakes are locking up or something is locked up in the rear drums, pull the tires and the drums off and see whats wrong.

 

I'd pull the cover off the rear differential.
Oil will pour out.

Inspect in there for carnage.

If one wheel is spinning, the other SHOULD spin backwards, just like you said (open differential). I think you'll see the problem when you open that up.

 

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=12039
https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=67856

 

With so many cases of that e-brake cable issue, at least pull the drums and inspect. I just have trouble rationalizing that you can spin each rear wheel fwd and backwards yet the truck won't "drive" forward, leading me to think it's beyond brakes

 

Thanks
I started witht he easiest and most suggested cause. Found the left brake had some broken hardware that let the shoes bind on the drum. Replaced hardware and shoes and it is good.

 

Nice.

Doesn't sound expensive either.