My drums get stuck after heavy rains/snows HELP
 

As the topic title says, my drums are getting stuck after it rains (with and without driving) and also in the winter. I figured this problem would go away when I did my brake job (new rear shoes and greased all the backing plate areas and got new drums). I didn't replace the springs/adjusters because everything was in fairly good shape, no major rust and the adjusters were smooth.

Today was the first hard rain in about a 3 month period. I was leaving the parking lot at work to get lunch....and the truck wouldn't move (it had done this in the winter as well) I checked to make sure the parking brake was released...YES.
Proceeded to launch the truck to un-stick the drums...... and after 2 attempts, the truck frees itself...
While braking at a nearby stop light, both rear tires locked up and chirped and made the ass end of the truck rise up HIGH, and the front dive.

Well. Here is my dillema.

ITs been about 4000 miles since I did the new shoes/drums.
I will see if NOT using the parking brake while wet out will help this situation.
The main thing bothering me is this makes me look like an ASS, revving up to around 6000rpms to launch the truck out of a parking spot in a 5mph speed zone.....and then when braking lightly for the first few times, the brakes grab HARD (I have had all other vehicles do this) I understand the surface of the rotors and drums get a light rust on them....and the first attempts to brake are usually grabby.....but not THIS grabby,
My ABS light NEVER comes on as my drums lock up....would this be becase of the front not locking....so the ABS ring doesn't send its signal to do the ABS pedal dance.....?

Sorry for the long post, but this is frustrating.


:shrug:

mine has always done this too. i think it is a common problem on rangers.

yup mine too..its just te crap that gets in em like sand and small rust that starts,and the water that somehow just makes it sticky

I never had this problem on my 92 Ranger.......ever.
This seems to be a common problem of the 01-current years.

I know the surface of the rotors and drums get a light coating of rust due to the moisture in the air, but SHEESH.

I am going to check out all my brake pads/shoes/calipers again to make sure something isn't loose, dry when it should be tight/greased.

Somebody at my work thinks possibly the brake proportioning valve could be going bad....although I think that has to do with the ABS system......and that self-diagnoses okay.

So. We'll see what happens.

Mine does this as well. They also grab the first time that I hit the brakes as well. I figured out the solution to it though! Exploder rear with discs!

yep.....mines never done that.......yay.....LUCKY me.....lol

Well, at least I know I am not alone.....it has happened to others.

I will try to find a fix to the problem on my vacation (form work) coming up......as with other things for the truck.

Thanks guys

Me either...original drums and shoes too. We both have 9" drums though, so that may have something to do with it. The people who do have problems all seem to have the 10" drums...though my mom's truck (which has 10" drums)has never done that before.

never happend with me (knock on wood)

Mine don't grab but they no longer stay adjusted. I don't know what is worse. I feel your pain on the brake problems tho.

my 03 does this in the winter, if i set my e brake, i have to make it get un stuck, and that sucks....and when it rains if the ebrake is set it gets stuck....and if i dont set it, when it rains the front end grabs when i touch the brakes...

Rocky

Mine does it almost all the time in the winter, and about the parking brake just put the truck in reverse and go back a little bit instead of goosin it and jerkin forward real hard

My 2000 did this every time someone spit withing 10 feet of my truck for a while. I guess the moisture really does effect those drums! I would lock up the rear end, or lunge forward just from putting my foot ON the brake pedal!

Last time I did a rear-brake job, I set the adjusters for the parking brake, then backed it off one "click". You can do this from the outside of the wheel without having to remove it. There is a small rubber grommet on the inside bottom edge of the drum plate. Remove that to expose your adjustment.

I backed it off and haven't had a lock-up since.