Should my brake rotor be loose?
If you can almost remove the rotor off a lug or two with everything installed, I’d be measuring the rotor specs with OEM rotor specs. But if the opposite end of the rotor (from caliper and pads) moves a 2-3 inches maximum, you should be fine.
What would cause rear drum brakes to lock up?
Rear drum brakes can lock for several reasons. One reason could be a defective wheel cylinder, which is part of the brake system. Your parking brake cable could also be adjusted too tight. The slightest pressure on the brake pedal, will then cause the brakes to work at full force, causing the lock up.
Can you tighten drum brakes?
Drum brakes usually need to be adjusted when the brake pedal has to be pressed down a lot before the brakes engage. Adjustments can be done only on brakes that are in good shape. Keep in mind that not all drum brakes are adjustable.
Can I drive with a loose rotor?
Short answer, I don’t recommend it! This also leads to over extending the brake caliper piston to the point of having it come out of its bore causing caliper failure as well. At this point things can quickly escalate from poor or noisy braking to a vehicle that will not stop.
Can a out of round drum cause rear wheel lockup?
Brake drum condition should be factored in when determining the cause of rear wheel lockup. An out of round brake drum or drums that vary in diameter too much from side to side could cause a one wheel lockup condition (Figure 61.8). Measuring drum runout or out of roundness is not easy in the field.
Can a rear brake shoe be out of round?
Over time a brake drum can become out of round, or it can wear to an excessively large diameter. Rear brake shoes and brake drums wear very slowly, as compared to disc brakes, but if a brake shoe wears down to the metal, or if an emergency brake is left applied, a brake drum can be easily damaged.
Why does my drum brake lock up at the rear?
One of the most common causes of one or two wheel lockup on drum brake equipped vehicles is the service and/or parking brake adjustment. If either one or both of these adjustments are done incorrectly it can result in the rear brakes being very sensitive.
Why do I need to replace my brake drum?
Most of the reasons to replace a brake drum have to do with the condition of that drum surface; each time the brakes are applied they create friction and heat and wear the drum a little bit. Over time a brake drum can become out of round, or it can wear to an excessively large diameter.