The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 66GM C50 - Rear Brakes Frozen

I believe my rear brakes are frozen - can't get the truck to budge forward or reverse..I visaully made sure the e-brake is not set.

I don't own a jack capable of lifting the back end off the ground...

Dumb question #1

Is using the adjusters the only option I have then to get the rear brakes un-frozen?

Dumb question #2

If yes to DBQ #1 then which direction gets me loos - up or down on the adjuster?

Of course this had to happen when someone was here to look at buying the old thing!

dq #1 - no, and probably not the right option.

dq#2 - the path of most resistance will loosen them which should be pushing up which turns the adjusting wheel down.

Your best option will be to get a jack and take the drums off and see what is frozen and get it freed up. If it was parked with the E-brake on it is most likely the cables have rusted up and may not ever come loose. Good luck
Vern

I believe the e-brake is not cable driven, as there are no cables to the rear drums. When I looked underneath there's a hub and "brake shoe" near the transmission that appears to lock the driveline.

I'm not in a financial position to buy a jack - hence, why I'm trying to sell the truck for .40 on the dollar

So, I guess the shoes are rusted - or the pistons on the wheel cylinders are stuck open by rust or gunk...

Oh, yeah - the master cylinder was nearly empty as well...hmmm would opening the valves on the wheel cylinders maybe make the brakes collapse?

surely you have a neighbor or somebody that will loan you a jack. you have released that brake on the driveline haven't you. make sure it is loose. I will step aside for ideas from the bigbolt guys, my experience is with conventional smaller car and truck braking systems. they will know a lot more about your brakes than me.

Yes, I made sure the ebrake was released.

I've got a 3-1/2 ton floor jack but I'm pretty sure so it would be maxed out trying to lift the back - don't these trucks wieght about 9500?

Even a very small bottle jack like an 8-ton or so would be sufficient to lift one wheel high enough to pull the tire/wheel assembly. They're available in the RV section of most Wally World stores at very low cost. Just stack up pieces of 2X8 boards to lift the jack high enough to get to the axle housing. Once it's jacked up and the wheels are removed, be sure to build up some type of sturdy support under the axle tube, and let the weight off the jack before doing any work.
Jerry

I think your 3 1/2 ton floor jack would lift one wheel at a time. 9500 is probably the total but you are only lifting less than 1/4th of that on the rearend, a little more on the front. I would have tackled it with my 2 1/2 ton floor jack without giving it a second thought.

Where in Washington State are you? There are members all over and perhaps one could drive by with a jack and make amusing comments while you loosen the brakes...

Port Orchard, about 6 miles from the Southworth ferry dock.

I got thick skin - comment away ~ LOL!