Spidey

Hi guys,

I'm new to this so bear with me. I have a 91 Jeep Cherokee LTD. 4.0L 4W. It's pretty beaten up with under carage rust big time. But that's for another discussion. My Right Rear wheel is stuck. I can go in reverse all I want but not forward without the wheel skidding along the pavement. After beating the wheel off with a rubber mallet from the rust build up, I'm now stuck with the Brake drum sealed on as well. I have absolutely no idea what might be causing this reverse only forward no predicament. I was thinking it's the brakes but maybe I'm heading down the wrong path?

Help?!?!

finneys98xj

It's probably brakes, There should be a little slot on the back of the drum where you can take a small screw driver and release the brake, IDK if it is on an xj, but on most of the vechiles in my yard there is because I had to do it to my Pinto. If there is it should be a little wheel you need a small screw driver to spin, IF there is one on there. To get the drum off you can be really careful and heat the drum, but you MUST BE REALLY CAREFUL!!! Hope this helps.

Howler_GT

That is a brake adjuster. If he tries rotating it w/screwdriver, it will only make the brake tighter.

This problem did it just happen?
Or has this XJ been "sitting"

When moving your Cherokee are you doing this under power (in gear w/foot on gas) or just pushing it around (in nuetral)?

Releasing a stuck drum, coat the inner hub w/ penetrating oil (PB Blaster/WD-40/Liquid Wrench) And get a big gear puller and gently coax the drum off. There will be alot of resistance due to wear on the brake surface and pad location. Some light raps with a BFH (BFH= Big........Hammer) helps along
You could TRY to release the brakes like Finney said but make sure you do not hear any ratcheting sounds. If you do, you are going the wrong way.

Check the drum backer plate. There are two pins that hold the brake shoes.
The heads of which are just like nail heads. Thats all you'll see. Make sure they are both present and accounted for. If these break, the shoes can sometimes give you an unidirectional rotation.

Unidirectional...Woohoo thats a 25cent word. Now who do I see for my quarter?

XJ Stryker

You actually can loosen it with the adjuster. You just need an additional thin screwdriver to hold the clip away. Had too when i had my parking brake too tight.

BlueXJ

You have to pay the quarter for using such a word Howler!!!
If Howlers and Finney's suggestions dont work you are going to have to cut those nailheads off and replace them with new pins to get the drum off. If that is your "unidirectional" rotation problem then you just need a new drum and new shoes and of course if you had to cut them new pins. The drum is probably so deeply worn that the inside edge has a lip which is keeping it from coming off easily. HTH
Blue

Howler_GT

I covered my butt later in the post....somewhat.

XJ Stryker

Yeah you did oops, I stopped reading when you said you couldnt adjust back.

BlueXJ

I would be more worried that his adjuster is frozen and won't turn at all.

XJ Stryker

Stuck... sounds like a job for some PB Blaster, love dat chit.

BlueXJ

Might be hard to get enough in that little oval shaped hole but certainly worth a try.
PB Blaster is great stuff. Everyone who owns a Cherokee needs a couple of cans of it.

finneys98xj

So Xj's do have the adjuster on the back? Sorry I didn't remember about the additional screwdriver to hold the clip out the way.

Howler_GT

Don't sweat it Finney...I forgot too.

What if the OP goes thru all this troble to get the drum off and it's NOT the problem?
Spider gear perhaps? Something loose in the diff?

Guess I have to stop using those 25cent words...It could get downright costly around here.

XJ Stryker

Well then he will have to shell out a bunch more money lets just go through the Cheap chit first. lol. And hope it fixes it. But checking your diff isnt hard prolly need to change the fluid in there anyways.

Spidey

Thanks guys!

It was the Self adjusting Cable. It was dangling inside the drum area. I had so much rust to compete with I had to beat on the drum with a BFH from the back to "coax" it off. The inside brake area looks nasty. I plan to buy new shoes and all new springs and retainers and such. Even rebuild the cylinders while I'm at it.

Thanks again for all your help!

Peace!

BlueXJ

Glad you finally got it resolved. Hope we were helpful too!