This weekend, the right rear wheel on my 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan refused to turn. I mean, no turn at all. I got in the car, started the engine, released the parking brake, set the gear shift to “R” for go backward, and hit the gas. No motion ensued. Upon exploration of the problem, I discovered that the right rear wheel would not roll. Given enough gas, I could drag it around and it would skid across the garage floor, but no rolling.
So, I called a wrecker and had the car taken to the local Dodge guys. (Goodbye, $95.) The guy there took off the wheel and removed the brake drum. He adjusted the brake shoes and the wheel turned easily by hand. He inspected the brakes on the left rear as well. (Goodbye another $89.) He had no explanation for why this might have happened, except to ask if I had recently replaced the brake shoes (obviously not). The shoes and drum are not excessively worn.
On the trip immediately before this problem, the car had been driven about fifty miles at speeds ranging up to seventy-ish mph. There was no hint of a problem, though the brake (not the ABS light) warning light came on briefly after a low-speed right turn. I assumed that the warning light was telling me to put fluid in the reservoir. The weather started out dry and ended up rainy that day. The temperature was in the high 80’s to low 90’s (very cool for this time of year). The tires are good and properly inflated (thanks Barrack!). I could not have driven all that way with the parking brake engaged. I surely would have noticed sluggish acceleration, smoke coming from the rear wheels, and excessive heat from the rear wheels.
Well, you are the Drum God, so you should know all about brake drums…
Sounds to me like the parking brake mechanism is sticking. You say that he removed the brake drum - how did he do this, if the shoes were expanded to the point where the wheel wouldn’t turn? He should have mentioned what he did to release the pressure.
A kinked brake hose can cause problems like this, also.
You know, I have a brake drum in the percussion cabinet at school, too. Makes an awesome ringing sound.
You know, I wondered how he got the drum off. I didn’t actually see him do it (I walked up too late). I didn’t think to ask. I was surprised it was a brake problem at all, since I figured the engine (and tire traction) would have overcome the brake.
How can I check for a kinked brake hose? Would that cause the brake warning light to briefly come on while driving?
Try this again, but shorter.
There is a cylinder at the top of the brake drum assembly that pushes the shoes outward onto the inside of the drum. At the bottom of the drum is an adjusting screw that also pushes the shoes towards the outside of the drum. This is adjustable via a small hole on the back of the drum. If you insert the proper tool(s) into this hole you should be able to draw the brakes back in and relieve the pressure.
Joey, the adjusting mechanism doesn’t push anything. Its purpose is to compensate for wear of the brake lining and drum. When all components are functioning properly, the adjuster will extend as needed when the brakes are firmly applied while the vehicle is traveling in reverse. The only component which pushes is the wheel cylinder.
There could have been a stone, rusty metal piece, or locked up emergency mechanism that worked itself free once the mechanic started taking things apart. If it’s been taken apart, lubed and inspected I think you’re in the clear.
