Deuce rear axle brake lockup..... Help please!!!

[bigreddeuce]

Ok, well I took the deuce for about a 30 mile drive and pulled into a parking lot and as I was inching through the parking lot my brakes locked up on the rear most axle??? But the other 2 axles were fine.. Kinda stumped as to why just the rear locked up. They were locked up tight enough the truck wouldn't move at all. So after letting it sit in the middle of the parking lot for about 20 mins, all while the Christmas were having to drive around this huge road block, I got back into the truck pumped the brakes a couple of times then something popped and I started rolling!?!? The drive home was about 5 miles and the brakes worked great........ I'm stumped, but I don't know much about these trucks yet, any ideas??????


The only reason I say the most rear axle is because those were smoking and the only brakes with any heat in them....

 

[Bob H]

Sounds like something came undone.
Time to pull a couple drums.

 

[hndrsonj]

You need to do a full brake inspection. I'd pull the hubs and check them out. I'm guessing they are either not adjusted right or possibly a broken spring.

 

[Speedwoble]

Could be improperly adjusted so they are overextending and binding.

 

[73m819]

Check the RUBBER line to the rear, when the line starts going BAD , the INSIDE sorta comes apart, now it acts as a ONE WAY VALVE, fluid will go past the blockage when you step on the brakes but will not return, this causes the brakes to get more and more pressure and lock up. If BOTH sides were hot and locked up , I would check the hose first, because it would not stand to reason that BOTH sides broke or came UNadjusted at the SAME time

 

[Bob H]

Not sure how it could move if both hubs on the same axle were locked, unless the drive shaft to the rear axle is missing.

 

[73m819]

Not sure how it could move if both hubs on the same axle were locked, unless the drive shaft to the rear axle is missing.

Power though

 

[nk14zp]

Check the RUBBER line to the rear, when the line starts going BAD , the INSIDE sorta comes apart, now it acts as a ONE WAY VALVE, fluid will go past the blockage when you step on the brakes but will not return, this causes the brakes to get more and more pressure and lock up. If BOTH sides were hot and locked up , I would check the hose first, because it would not stand to reason that BOTH sides broke or came UNadjusted at the SAME time

That's where I'd start.

 

[DeucesWild11]

I had the exact same thing happened to mine on the recovery ride home. She was sitting for a while not driven much then they started locking up on all four tires on the ride back.. not fully locking up mind you.. once I realized I stopped. Put in reverse a couple of times.. pumped the brakes and they released.. sounds just like your incident.. It never happened again but need to take apart the brakes and inspect the condition of the shoes as they were burning up a bit..

 

[bigreddeuce]

Thanks for all the input guys, this site is great!! I did the exact same thing DW, Reverse then a couple of brake pumps after everything cooled off and now everything is freed up and rolling. Once I got it home I checked the lines and they seemed fine. This truck sit for 8 months or so before I bought it. In the last 2 weeks it's had singles put on it and several test drives adjusting and fixing things. The guy that has been working on it is out of shawnee and seems to have a ton of knowledge on these trucks!

On the first try getting the truck to me the spring in the emergency brake broke which caused damage to the forward rear axle diff, he replaced it and then readjusted all the brakes. He has been great at replacing things trying to make the truck right before I got it and has been a lot of help since I received it as well... Great guy to work with but I'm trying to learn as much here so I don't have to keep making phone calls!! Ok well now back to the Deuce.......

After I got home and checked the lines I drove down the road, about 2 miles @ 35ish, got out checked for heat, smoke, or anything out of the ordinary BOTH rear hubs had a little heat in them, when a say a little I mean I wasn't touching cold metal.. So I continued on for 5 miles or so then headed home, backed into the drive with the truck rolling on it's own weight and all seems good! Zero heat when I reached the house too.... Freak deal maybe who knows but I will be keeping an eye on it and paying close attention to wear or anything that my untrained eye can catch.......... Thanks again guys!!!!!

 

[bigreddeuce]

Drove it again tonight and absolutely zero problems! I'm thinking I had the same thing as DW happen!


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.008840,-96.064901

 

[Heath_h49008]

If it does happen again, the hoses will be the first thing to check. We see this a lot in the automotive world when calipers start hanging up.

Another way to test:

When the axle/caliper is sticking, loosen the bleeder on the "stuck" brake. If it has pressure and spays fluid, you know you have a collapsed line checking the flow and acting like a line lock. Even pumping the brakes a few times can build a small pressure in the line... at least enough to test and see the difference.

 

[hndrsonj]

You have a known brake issue in a 13K truck that doesn't have a split brake system. You NEED to figure out the problem before you keep driving it.

 

[DeucesWild11]

I found that mine has two leaks in the front brake hoses.. Read on the TM's that this is an inherent problem and that they will break bec they are too short. Ordered a new set (which is longer) from Saturn Surplus and going to install. That could be a completely unrelated issue but need to replace anyway. Take a look and see if there are any fluid marks on the inside of your tires.. that's how I found the issue. Also my brake fluid was low in the MC. If the truck is new to you I would recommend checking the fuel by draining some of the fuel out of the primary fuel filter. I took out about 1/2 a cup of water! Hey funny your truck is Red, mine was too when she was a firetruck..

 

[doghead]

Locking up all the rears, sounds more like a bad airpack to me. Simply identified by opening a bleeder when it happens. If there is pressure, your airpack is probably in need of a rebuild.

For the OP. You need to inspect every single component of your brake system. A single failure will result in total failure of the brakes. The Parking brake will NOT stop the truck in an emergency.

Any less than a full tear down and inspection, would be negligent, on your part.

And to all, If you can't afford to maintain and repair a truck, then you should not own one.

If you do not have the capability to do the work, you should not own one(if you don't have the funds to pay someone qualified to repair and maintain it).

$2500 trucks are money pits and deathtraps. Just because you can buy one, does not mean you should have one.

 

[73m819]

You have a known brake issue in a 13K truck that doesn't have a split brake system. You NEED to figure out the problem before you keep driving it.

WHY, this is just

 

[DeucesWild11]

I asked a few people about my brake issue.. All familiar with the Deuces, they did recommend I take a look at the shoes to make sure I didn't burn them up. With only 1,300 miles on the truck but given it's age and not having been driven for a while they though something with the air pressure just didn't release properly. I would assume this is the Airpack issue you are referring to doghead? In my case it seemed to happen all around.. all 4 brakes smokin after I pulled off the highway. Then put in reverse then forward.. pumped the brakes and felt something release. not really loud or anything.. Thank you for your help.

 

[Mike929]

I just finished replacing/rebuilding my brake system, after getting the same lecture for driving my truck home from GL with less then perfect brakes.

Just get in there and start looking into the issue and feel good that everything is in top shape. If you work on fixing the issue, help will pour in from the SMEs on the site.

 

[bigreddeuce]

Well myself and a couple of heavy line techs looked the brake system over and couldn't find any real issues with the brake system. When I purchased the truck it had been gone through by a very knowledgeable person on these trucks. He works on them plus sells them. I know that no one else should be trusted in the issue of the safety of the vehicle that I am driving and that's why today when I had some time to actually check things out, I did! Thank you guys for all of your input! This site has been great so far!


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.008780,-96.064953

 

[m816]

I'm gonna jump in here and put my two cents in: With all the five tons and deuces I have owned and worked on, I always wind up pulling the wheels and checking the brake cylinders. They are always full of sludge. I feel that this happens because of the silicone fluid. Moisture in the lines winds up in the cylinders and starts to rust the bottom half of the cylinder.This is because the trucks sit for so long between uses.
I can't tell you how many airpacks I pulled and rebuilt needlessly only to find out that the cylinders had to be rebuilt.
When you get a new truck, pull the wheels, clean ahone the cylinders check the linnings, clean and repack the berings and replace the seals. then go over all the brake lines and replace all rubber lines and tighten up your E- Brake. Flush the fluid and replace with new silicone fluid and give the airpac a little lube in the rear plug. Then go over the fuel system.
Like Doghead said, If you can't or won't take care of the truck, you should sell it to someone who can and just ride along with them. Just my two cents