2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Brakes grabbing hard

[Kalaehina]

What causes brakes to grab really hard on rainy days? This problem has come up within the last month. When it's raining, my brakes will grab and squeal, almost to the point of causing the truck to screech the tires. And it will happen on rainy days even before the truck gets wet from the road, so I know it's not the actual rain water. Humidity??? Does this sound like a brake component problem, or like an ABS system problem? Thanks for any advice or help... .

 

[Dl5treez]

Guessing it's the rears mostly?



The humidity builds up a thin layer of rust on the brake drum and shoe. The first few applications are rough surface against rough surface, so it grabs pretty hard.



You can replace the shoes w/ a different compound to lessen the problem, but how it do it---takes practice--is get moving about 20 mph and slowly apply the park brake. That will quickly burn off the rust layer w/o putting enough pressure on the shoes to make them grab.



On my truck it happens with the rears--fronts are fine.



Dan-

 

[Kalaehina]

Hmm, seems like it's the fronts but I may be wrong. Thanks for the suggestion, I may have to try that.

 

[rmcnamee]

Its the rear drums that are grabbing. My 1997 does the same thing, even when its snowing, which is real fun . I just get in, drive foward, brace myself and hit the brakes once or twice and it solves it. I'd like to upgrade to rear discs, but I can't decide between EGRs kit or swapping in a rear axle out of 2001. 5/2002 truck with factory discs.

 

[Kalaehina]

Ok, I think I have to look into the rear brakes. My fronts should be just fine, had to redo them last summer when I had a busted bearing. Thanks guys for the info!