Just got stuck in 1/2 an inch of snow in a parking lot. Also, brake problem?!?

Hey guys.

I've got an '07 DCLB Sport 4x4 auto. About 45k on the odo. Nothing modified. I noticed an issue a little while ago when trying to get moving. I'd start the truck for the first time in a couple days, go to shift into drive, and most noticeably when putting it in reverse, that the truck would shudder and surge a bit (in the driveline, not rpm/engine-wise), and maybe move a few inches. I figured something was going on with the transmission or diff being cold (I'm up north; daily temps hover around -10 to -20). I'd put it in neutral, shift to drive, reverse, then back, and it seemed fine. No issues once I got moving, and no other problems with the truck; only happened a couple times in the past couple months.

Today, about a 3 hour drive from home, I parked the truck to go grab some stuff in a mall. Snow on the ground, pretty damn cold today (about -29C). Come back out to the truck about 20 minutes later, fire it up, try to back out of the stall...and nothing. I can feel the truck shifting sideways, but its not going anywhere. I can feel one of the wheels spinning, and its in 2hi. Put it in D, try to pull forward into the empty stall ahead...nothing but spin. Turns out the left rear wheel is doing nothing while the right just spins. 4hi and a bunch of gas gets us out of the lot, as I open the door and watch the front grabbing, the other two grabbing and getting traction, as the left rear stays locked and just drags. I get the truck out of the lot, the whole truck just crabwalking at a 45 degree angle...musta looked ridiculous. At some point, I think the tire caught some traction on some dry pavement, eventually came un-'stuck', and I drove off with no problems. About an hour later, I got totally stranded in another parking lot after trying to replicate the problem, just by putting it in reverse, then back to drive. Spent an hour trying to get enough traction with the one spinning wheel, then 3 wheel drive and shifting all the weight in the rear over the one working wheel to get free, triggering the ABS and parking brake light (I've never used the parking brake). Finally driving home once it came un-stuck again.


So WTF. I realize this isn't a transmission issue, and I highly doubt its even a differential issue. I just changed out the diff fluid with Amsoil 75w90 and used the LSD additive. There's no way the gear oil would cause such a dramatic problem; also, the issue popped up before the diff oil change. I've read in a few places now that the rear drums (seriously, Toyota, you're still using drums?) sometimes seize up, or the tensioner goes to shit or something. Anyway, what's your guys' prognosis? I'm really not a fan of dealing with drum brakes, but will if I have to...and would really rather it be a brake issue than something with the diff or tranny. Thanks in advance; sorry about the long read.

 

Brake frozen ?

 

Have you ever used the parking brake before? If it's the first time you did that and it was that cold out the cable could have seized somewhere. The springs may have gotten weak with all the hot and cold cycles and won't retract the shoes back all the way. Take the drum off and see if anything is missing. Use the right side as a comparison.

 

Yup brake feezing. I'm glad I Moved from Omaha to Texas.

 

Awesome. I hope its that simple. About time I checked the rear shoes anyway. What do we mean by 'freezing' though? The shoes onto the drum? I never use the parking brake...could the cold temps affect anything else?

 

They could effect everything ha. Yes it would basically be the shoes stuck against the drum. Broken or weak springs. Where the shoes rest against the backing plate could not having any anti seize or sylglide anymore.

 

You could have has some water get in there and refreeze while the truck was sitting

I've had this happen to a lesser degree than you describe

 

Never thought about that. Snow would melt in there while the brakes were hot then freeze back when it just sat. Man you BC guys got it rough ha. Glad I moved away from MI.

 

Seriously haha. No way it would get that cold here.

 

Weak springs and water/ road grime freezing inside the drum. Pull the drums and inspect and clean. The last position they are in is expanded when you stopped to park and the one doesn't retract all the way back. At least this has happened to me on a couple of my older cars before.

 

where i live i started putting my parking brake on and when it was below zero backing out of my drive way i heard a loud boom and that was the brakes releasing i dont do it anymore just leave it in gear

 

Yeah, don't put the parking brake on in cold weather. They'll freeze up, the last time I did that I had to jack up the back wheels, take the tires off and pound on the drums with a tire iron to loosen up the pads. Never again, and even rear discs have a drum as the parking brake. DO NOT engage the parking brake in cold weather.

 

haha i put mine in 4low and back up lol works everytime...

 

I had a Ranger that used to have that happen all the time. Just one wheel. I didn't realize it until I'd gone a block sliding sideways. Looked out the door, and the wheel was stuck. My next Ranger both wheels would get stuck. I remember tromping on the gas. The engine would bog, the body would twist, then *BOOM* I'd go flying backwards as the brakes broke loose.

 

Lol , I just noticed the OP's username , haha

 

If you really mean never, you're going to have WAY bigger problems(transmission) down the road to deal with, than what you are now.