2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Sticky morning brakes

[BrosseauJD]

Hello, I have a question about my brake system. The rear brakes on my 97 3500 4X4 are very touchy in the morning. The first few taps on the brake pedal in the morning will cause the rear brakes to grab very hard. After a few stops they loosen up and work normally. There is no squealing or abnormal noises. Rain or the very humid Alabama mornings makes the situation worse. The brakes don't seem to drag, but it is hard to tell with the massive power of the Cummins. Any suggestions, or is this normal for the 1 ton brakes.

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Jeff Brosseau. (Electrical Engineer) '97 3500 4X4 Ext Cab. Auto Trans, K&N Air Filter. Kenwood Head Unit, MTX amps & Thunder form sub. Infinity separates, Street Wires cables. Crime stopper alarm.

 

[Andy Morrison]

Check for leaking axel seals. A little oil on the drums or shoes will make them grab. This is a common problem.

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'97 2500 4X4 club cab, BLACK, Leer XL-100,running boards , cup smoothie, EZ Drain, 103,000 miles

 

[HEMI®Dart]

BrosseauJD
My bet is its just moisture or rust on the drums from sitting overnight. After you apply the brakes once or twice its usally ok after that.

Common Problem

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 02-03-2001). ]

 

[Cooker]

I had the same problem. The fix was to repair the leaky axle seals. Look at the backing plates if they have moisture on them (oil), then it is either axle seals or possibly a leaky wheel cylinder. If you find moisture, pull off the wheel to see whats going on.

Ryan

 

[1tuffram]

sounds like the same problem I had when the axle seals started to leak a little. Pull the drums and do an inspection.

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'95 2500 SLT 5 speed 4x4

 

[zzman]

BrosseauJD
I asked this same question the other day.
Mine does it every time too [first thing].
Do you use your parking brake all the time?
I felt like it was my parking brake sticking.

I received the same responses that you are.
Was going to wait for better weather to tear it
apart. Today I had another scare tho. Coming
to a red light after traveling about 30 miles
on the farm road. The brakes didn't feel the
same as usual. It took quite a bit more pressure
to stop. But then it was OK again.
I'm going to look into it Sun. I need to see if there
is any fluid leaking somewhere.

I'll let you know what I find.

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97 3500 SLT REDext cab duelly p/u 5sp 3:54 2wd 245/75R16
3" straight exhaust stock torque plate slid full foward star wheel tweeked
105,000 miles still with plenty of ZOOM... ZOOM... ZOOM

RON Z

 

[sam peterson]

The key here is that it only gives the problem when cold or first thing in the morning. The problem is moisture sensitive lining on the shoes. This has been a common problem since the loss of asbestos in brake lining formulation. Pull the drums & check to make sure there is no fluid contamination from seals or cylinders. If you can live with the grabbing it won't cause a problem or you can change the shoes to a different lining compound. Some brands a better than others at handling moisture. If you need more info, E-mail me.
Sam

 

[DieselB59]

When my rear axle seals leaked, the brakes would lock up all the time in the rear. The leak was fixed and they are very touchy on a damp or rainy morning too. I agree that this is a normal problem caused by flash rusting of the drums.

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Chris Timochko
AUTO WURKS DIESEL R&D TEAM
1997 5sp 4X4, Rhino Linings, Espar Heater, A. W. D. HX40 turbo, ATS 3pc Manifold, BD 4" Brake, Marine Compression, A. W. D. Custom Tuned Injection Pump, A. W. D. Intercooler, A. W. D. 370B Injection Nozzles, Delivery Valves, Governor & AFC Spring Kit, Psychotty Air, A. W. D. Water Injection, NOS Diesel Kit, A. W. D. 6" Chrome Exhaust System, BD No Smoke Valet Switch, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins Chrome Kit, Optima Red Tops, Hadley Bully Horns, Hurst Line Loc, Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 305/70/16s.
*******************************************************************************
Project U96 - 1996 3500 2WD racer. A. W. D. Marine Ultra Low Compression, A. W. D. Teflon-coated Pistons, A. W. D. High Lift Camshaft, Ported and Honed Cylinder Head, Intake and Exhaust manifold; A. W. D. HX40 Turbocharger, ATS 3pc Exhaust Manifold, A. W. D. Water Injection, A. W. D. Custom Fabricated Fuel System, Race Spec A. W. D. /BD P7100 Injection Pump, A. W. D. Custom High Flow Fuel Injection Nozzles, BD Auto transmission and Custom TC, Weld Draglites, Goodyear Eagle Drag Slicks, 5" Single Stack Through The Bed, Mag-Hytec on Rear and Transmission.

 

[djbobo]

My 98 nearly always grab hard in the morning. I have 4 wheel abs. All brakes are new & seals are ok.



Heres what I do & works every time wether its humid or not. I drive up to 30 or so mph before i use the brakes & it doesn't grab for the rest of the day. I don't know why- but it works. I personally think it's in the abs electronics.



dj

 

[Camara]

I have the same problem with my 99. Only on damp mornings. I pulled my wheels and no leaks. When I leave the house I go down the street about 200 to 300 feet with one foot on the brake pedal. Just enough so that they drag and warm up. Then by the time I get to the stop sign at the end of the street I can stop properly and not hit my head on the dash.

 

[bighammer]

Glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem. My 94 does it a bit, and I've been driving with the ABS light on for the last year or so. Thought about fixing it just for this problem, but it sounds like it wouldn't help. Gona get the drums off one of these warmer days and have a looksee.

 

[jkern]

mine too

i agree with what Camara said. i am sure there are some problems with leaky axel seals, but generally the problem is from moisture. i just ride the brakes for about 100 yards or so and that makes enough heat that the brakes don't grab anymore. works well and i really don't think that it affects brake life that much.

 

[jkern]

mine too

i agree with what Camara said. i am sure there are some problems with leaky axel seals, but generally the problem is from moisture. i just ride the brakes for about 100 yards or so and that makes enough heat that the brakes don't grab anymore. works well and i really don't think that it affects brake life that much.

 

[BigMike]

Mine does the exact same thing. I don't have any leaky seals or other sources of contamination on my brakes. I use my emerg. brake every time I park it, although I don't think that has anything to do with it. Anyway, after I hit the brakes a time or two, they work normally. I can live with it!!

 

[AC]

I have a similar problem. I pulled the drums and looked for leaks and found none. I did find quite a bit of break dust but believe the problem with mine to be in the mechanism. When I cleaned everything out and sprayed brake cleaner on the moving parts the brakes behaved normally for about two weeks. ( I used to have to ride the emergency brake first thing every day or the rear brakes would lock up the first few times I used them. ) It's been about a month now and I have not had to "prime" the rear brakes yet. If it returns I think I will just replace all the moving parts and call it good. I can't stand dumping my coffee over first thing in the morning

 

[John Berger]

Same here

Mine do it intermittently, but only on moisture laden days, i. e. rain, fog, etc. I have no leaking axle seals.

 

[RO'neal]

Yup, me too

No leaky seals... just when it's very humid or the day after a big rain...

 

[grtescpa]

Originally posted by BrosseauJD

Hello, I have a question about my brake system. The rear brakes on my 97 3500 4X4 are very touchy in the morning. The first few taps on the brake pedal in the morning will cause the rear brakes to grab very hard. After a few stops they loosen up and work normally. There is no squealing or abnormal noises. Rain or the very humid Alabama mornings makes the situation worse. The brakes don't seem to drag, but it is hard to tell with the massive power of the Cummins. Any suggestions, or is this normal for the 1 ton brakes.



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Jeff Brosseau. (Electrical Engineer) '97 3500 4X4 Ext Cab. Auto Trans, K&N Air Filter. Kenwood Head Unit, MTX amps & Thunder form sub. Infinity separates, Street Wires cables. Crime stopper alarm.

Do what I did, convert to rear disk brakes. Troubles are gone!

 

[djbobo]

When you converted to rear disc's, was it with the newer trucks or some kind of conversion? Any abs problems? Porpotional valve needed?

I would like to try to put a late model disc rear end in mine, I might start a post on this one. I agree with you with this being the best 'fix' for the sticky brake issue.



dj

 

[Loren]

I'm sure there is more than one reason for grabby brakes in the morning, but here's my theory.



When you park your truck, the brake drum friction surface is all shiny and polished from the shoes rubbing on it. If it's humid at all, the moisture in the air causes that shiny steel to rust overnight (literally).



When you drive the truck the next time, the rusty surface has more friction against the shoes than a smooth, polished, shiny surface. This causes the brakes to grab the first time or two. Once the rust is worn off by the shoes, the grabbing stops.



I think this is the case because I've experienced this situation with lots of vehicles of different makes. Even my trailers do it.



Occasionally I've had the parking brake refuse to release. I expect that in most of those cases, the cause is the shoes have rusted to the drums. Due to the properties of leading shoes/trailing shoes, I can always move the truck backwards, even if it won't go forwards again. A few feet of travel will usually free the parking brake. I assume this is because the rust (or other problem) is worn away.



You can also get a case of a parking brake that won't release because some water in the parking brake cable has frozen. In that case, driving the truck won't fix the problem. You must either remove or melt the water.



Loren