Brakes: Brake sticks

[corum]

The right front brake on my 49 Champion coupe sticks something fierce after the car has not been driven for a while. The last time this happened I had not taken the car out for about 3-4 weeks. The brake binds as soon as I push the pedal, but will unlock when I take my foot off the pedal. It will eventually stop binding after I start up and stop several times. It takes longer to unbind the longer the car has sat. I normally just put her in reverse and keep trying until the brake unsticks. The last time this happened I thought I had it working okay until I got out on the road, had to make a sudden stop, and the tire squealed like a stuck pig. The brakes work fine otherwise that is after the sticking goes away.

I am hoping that this is a fairly simple problem to fix: a bad return spring? a new brake cylinder? Could there be a problem in the line? The lines, cylinders, front shoes were replaced about five years ago. Drums were honed.

I really would appreciate any advice you can give.

[41 Frank]

You may have a wheel cylinder leaking fluid on the brake lining. That would sure cause it to lock up.

[RadioRoy]

That's my thought also. There is also the possibility that the brake adjuster is wonky. Many mechanics are stymied by those adjusters, although they work really well is installed properly.

Why not remove the right front drum and take a look?

[kfnut]

The brake hose may be starting to swell on the inside not letting the fluid return keeping the brakes locked . If the hoses are getting old , it would be a good idea to replace them .

[pinehurstbob]

My guess would be wheel cylinder. Just had to redo the fronts on my 60 after 6 summers of use. Have you been adding brake fluid?
Bob

[jackb]

suggest you're not driving the car enough - change that and maybe your problem goes away..... but I would definitely open up that side and investigate. BTW - when were the front bearings/seals serviced ?

[GrumpyOne]

The brake hose may be starting to swell on the inside not letting the fluid return keeping the brakes locked . If the hoses are getting old , it would be a good idea to replace them .

Yep... Sticky, (sometimes inconsistent), brakes in my experience has nearly always been solved with new hoses and if one is causing grief, replace 'em all!

[corum]

Just wanted to thank all who responded to my question. Turns out that a previous owner removed all of the brake adjustment hardware on both front brakes. I assume there are no consequences to this lack of self adjustment? I adjusted using the eccentrics. The grabbing is gone, but was wondering if I should look into replacing all the hardware if I can get it. Thanks again.

[TWChamp]

I'd replace the missing part to the adjusters. French Lake Auto Parts would have them. 320-286-2560

Funny how so many will just remove that stuff they don't understand, rather than fix it correctly.
If you need new buttons for the adjusters, I'd guess SI or one of the parts guys here would have some. I found some NOS ones on ebay a couple years ago.

[jackb]

Sounds like the same mechanic worked on my truck. Pulled all the adjuster parts off, had to install over-sized brake pads, and I still got too much pedal play. I could not get the eccentrics to adjust even then. Had to Rube G. some oversized washers "hogged out" over stock eccentrics. A lot of work, but working. Hold for having to adjust shoes every few hundred miles due to no arcing.....

[RadioRoy]

Generally, if the adjusters have been removed, the eccentrics have insufficient range to adjust the shoes. Some aftermarket companies made large washers to put around the eccentrics to give them adjustment range.

The best thing is to install the self adjusters. They seem complicated until you get used to installing them, but they work great.