Rear wheel locking up on 2010 Tacoma TRD

Hey guys,
went out hunting a week ago in my 2010 DC TRD in the snow. Saw tracks and pulled over to check them out, got back in the truck after 1 minute or so and when I went to pull out onto the road the rear passenger wheel was locked up. I did not use the e-brake. Jiggled it back and forwards a couple of times and it freed. At the time I thought something froze up.

After a week of indident free driving, I am back to work at a remote mine site. Got in the truck the following morning, and the same wheel is locked up again. I took off the wheel, took a propane torch to the drum in case something was frozen but no go. Since that is what warrenty is for I decided to get it towed.

Today the towtruck makes it to the site (150kmdrive from the nearest town), I get in my truck to show the driver what's happening and the wheel is free again! I pulled ahead 15 feet, no resistance, everything fine, then it locked up again.

Tomorrow the Toyota dealership will tear into it.

It is definately mechanical, as you can hear a clicking when rotating the wheel back and forth as much as you can.

The truck has an OME lift, but currently sits on stock rims with winter tires.

Any ideas? Collased brake shoe? I'm sure it has nothing to do with the e-brake.

Thanks

 

Semi-common problem on Tacoma's. Both my 2009 and 2010 did it, I just figured it was a design flaw, and it just had to be freed with a little encouragement.
One guy posted he had an axle seal leak and cause this, but I know that I did not have 2 new trucks in a row with axle seal leaks.

 

Towed it to the dealer, they called and found nothing wrong. Rear drivers side wheel turns again. They checked for water in the rear diff, but did not pull off the drum to see whats going on in there. Dealer said he can't fix what isnt broken.

Going to pick up the truck, but if this continues and Toyota is unwilling to even look into it, this truck is gone and I'm getting a Dodge.

Too bad.

 

It sounds like a leaking axle seal. If it's just starting it might not leak bad enough to see on the backing plate. They'd have to pull the drum and inspect it. If it's not doing it right now I'd bet they didn't take it apart. You could ask them if they did or ask them to.

Were you in snow both times? Any chance snow is building up on that parking brake cable and causing it to engage the parking brake? I've never had mine do that but you never know. Used to see that on certain vehicles with running boards.

 

They didn't pull the drum off??? Are they crazy or just plain stupid, to quote a line from forrest gump.

Pulling a drum off a toyota isn't that big of a deal to a tech with the tools. Adjust the shoes in if you have to, otherwise thread the bolts in and pop it off!

 

Nope, towed it 150km and they didnt even pull the drum off. Going to pick it up tonight, we'll see what happens.

 

I'd give them a call and demand they pull the drum apart. After a tow like that, it's the least they can do. I wouldn't pick it up until they did. And if they refused, I'd call corporate. I get sick of Toyota acting like their customers are incompetent, deluded or seeing things as if we're all collectively mentally ill (which we are .. but that's another matter. )

 

Yup, I went to the dealership and made them put the truck on the hoist (after hours!), pull off both rear wheels and drums. Nothing out of the ordinary was found. They also checked the front and rear diff fluids which were clean, no water or metal. They replaced all diff fluid.

The recommended not using the parking brak if it's cold out, and suggested that IF it was the parking brake you should still be able to go backwards but not forwards.

They did all this after hours at no charge which was surprising. I asked them, btw, does my OME lift affect my warranty at all, and they said "no, not here with us". Seems like good guys! Heartland Toyota, Williams Lake, BC Canada.

Hopefully this won't happen again anytime soon. Thanks for the input everyone!

 

Hey Swissrallyman,
Had the same problem with my 2009 tacoma...took back tire off and removed drum and there was a chunk of ice inside the drum causing it to hit the shoes and not allow drum to move freely. I removed ice with screwdriver and put everything back together and it was fixed.

I guess some ice had melted and stayed at the bottom of the drum and then froze causing the drum to lock and only move a foot or two forward and back then lock.maybe this helps

 

Mine locked up, it was real weird it locked up but I backed up about 200' into a parking spot but then it wouldn't roll forward. Found some bent shoes? Replaced them and it's all good.

 

mine did that the shoe sping and retainer fell out into the drum.

 

DON'T GET A DODGE!!!!! PLEASE NO!!!

 

Mine locks up, but it is because a stick or something came up and put a kink in my parking brake cable (driver's side). I can apply the parking brake no problem, but the only way it will release is if I get out and pull it by hand on the other side of the kink.