Surfer01

Vehicle has been standing for 3 days and this morning went to move it and it seems as if though the brakes have locked up. Rocked it back and forth a few times and then was able to reverse, however on going forward, brakes locked up.
Can move backwards, but only a few feet forward before they lock up again. Although weather has been cool, not exactly cold. This is a 4 x 4 that should cope with any weather thrown at it.
The breakdown guy came and checked it and what we found alarmed me. The issue is with the right hand read brake. It activates itself with no outside help. Moving forward or backward after about 20 yards the brake comes on and stops the vehicle dead. Eventually he had to uplift the vehicle to the dealer.
We are beginning to regret buying this Jeep as it has been back for repair every week since we purchased it! Breakdown mechanic has stated it is the rear brake calliper that keeps activating on its own.
Any one with any ideas please. It is the 2005 GC 3.0L CRD with 61,000 miles on the clock!

Gee oh Dee

Sounds like a sticking caliper.

What would you like to know? Buy a fully loaded caliper and swap it out?

Or rebuild the one you have?

Surfer01

The calliper allows the vehicle to move either backward ro forward but only for about 20 - 30 metres before it applies itself again.

Mattnkc74

X2 I agree brakes aren't engaging on their own. The piston in the calipers seized and not retracting.

Gee oh Dee

How many tire rotations will it make?

Surfer01

Only the one right hand side brake engages and this only happens after moving the vehicle 20 - 30 yards. It then releases on its own accord and then when moving the vehicle it engages again. Only happening with the one brake.

Gee oh Dee

Yes, which points to that brake caliper being bad. Typically (leaving the proportioning valve out) you can't lock one brake. All 4 grab. So its most likely just a bad caliper unless anyone else can explain how fluid is just pushing that on caliper and none of the others...

Gee oh Dee

Or maybe its a REALLY warped caliper? Bent axle?

Doubtful...really doubtful.

Bustedback

Could be a bad brake hose too.

Surfer01

Update:- Dealer has phoned to say that the issue is with the rear drum brake for the handbrake. Apparently the vehicle has disc and drum brakes on the rear. I ad no idea it had two types of braking on the rear.

Bustedback

The drums in the rear rotors are only for the parking brake, not for service brakes.

Surfer01

Thanks learn something new with the Jeep every day!

dave1123

This problem was common on drum brakes. You've got a broken return spring on the primary shoe in that rear brake. The primary shoe is the one that rotates into the direction of forward motion. If you take the brake apart, you'll probably find all the hardware rusted. This is especially a problem with front wheel drive vehicles because there is not as much heat to dry them out.

Check it out and please correct me if I'm wrong.

This can happen with the parking brake also.

Gee oh Dee

^^Makes sense.

dave1123

In my day, people used to have "winter rats". Cars that you got for $100 and only drove in the winter. You'd park it in the spring, all covered with salt and dirt, and not even look at it until fall. Brake springs used to pop all the time.

Sometimes the old guys know something!

Hell, I remember buying a junk car, slapping a set of plates on it, and driving it to the Watkin's Glen Grand Prix Weekend. You could drive it for 10 days without inspection and then just turn in the plates. This was basically at 3 day beer party. Half the guys didn't even watch the races! Some of our wrecks were plain dangerous! The old Grumman step vans were popular for sleeping in.