Question51 chevy pickup all new brake components has right rear wheel grab no grease or foreign substance on inner drum I tryed backing off adjuster but no help.I have full pedal this brake grabs with a light foot on pedal.Could it be a bad drum? It is 63 chev p.u. rear axle.3;50 ratio. Also need any mileage help you can think of. I baby it to get 16 and it is tuned up professionally. Also carb rebuilt.Thanks
AnswerA grabbing brake is caused by some foreign substance on or absorbed into the lining, and/or on the drum, in about 99.99% of the cases I've run into, so I'd double and triple check. You can't get brake fluid or grease out a lining once it is contaminated, so unless you know that these linings have never been subject to this problem, you may have to replace them (and do both sides of the truck) to cure the problem.
It is also possible that the return springs or lining hold down hardware is not installed right, so compare the two sides of the truck to make sure the primary and secondary linings are in the right position, and installed correctly. Usually, though, this kind of a mistake doesn't lead to grabbing - it just causes uneven braking or noise.
16 MPG with a Chevy pickup is excellent mileage! Other than going to a lower rear axle ratio, I don't know of anything further you can do. I assume you are running a 216 Cu In (the original engine) - if so, I'm amazed you are getting 16. Your engine must be in excellent shape. I drove an identical pickup for over 30 years - I never got close to that mileage, and I live way out in the country -no traffic! And, I drove 55 Max, usually between 45 and 50. These are very sturdy, well built trucks, they weren't built lightly or aerodynamically, like the new trucks. Be happy with what you've got there!
Dick
