Topic: 74 rear brake locked up
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


Steve, Lifetime Member #129
74 coupe 4 speed 350, 54K actual miles,
all original; paint, interior, engine,
split bumper. #'s match. 2nd owner, no stress cracks.
Are the hoses original? Rebuilding the calipers and opening up the system could have allowed some crud to enter and block the rubber hose. They also have a tendency to collapse over time. I've had 2 hoses clog up on me over the years, both fronts. Tried bleeding the bad brake and got nothing, disconnected the hose from the caliper and still nothing through the hose. Disconnected the steel line from the hose, Bingo! got fluid. I was able to put a heavy wire through the hose and flush it out with brake cleaner til I was able to replace them. Right now I know I have one hose that seems to be bubbling up at the metal crimp that I will be replacing next time I flush the ststem.
This is usually noticed directly after driving, tho, when the stuck brake gets hot and the car starts to pull in the opposite direction. As you're driving the car will pull in the direction of the stuck caliper but when applying the brakes the car will pull in the opposite direction because the stuck one is not applying any more while the unstuck brakes are holding. As they cool down the stuck one seems to release a little allowing some movement until the next time you drive the car and the brake gets hot again from dragging.
The regular brake pads will always drag slightly, if they are stuck to the rotor they should break free. Are the parking brakes new? I wouldn't think originals would lock up as so many of them don't even work when you want them to! Look closely and see if the rotor is moving freely of the calipers. If the calipers are locked tight to the rotors I'd bet on the bad hose.
Mike

Moderator
Can you loosen the bleeder screw on that caliper, and the brakes release? If so, then you probably do have a bad hose there, as Mike pointed out. It does happen. They'll look fine on the outside, but can be collapsed on the inside, allowing fluid pressure to got to the caliper, but not release.

After re-reading the post, the tip-off is the "will move forward, but locks up in rev" part...sound like an e-brake problem. E-brakes always seem to hold better in rev. than they do forward.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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Steve, Lifetime Member #129
74 coupe 4 speed 350, 54K actual miles,
all original; paint, interior, engine,
split bumper. #'s match. 2nd owner, no stress cracks.