On the hook- Rear Break Seized

So I got stuck yesterday in a parking lot. Had to be towed to a Toyota dealer. For some reason the left rear drum brake is seizing up when I am at a stop. It happened to me once before on my ski trip up the mountain last weekend. The brake came unstuck after some rocking and driving in 4lo. It was easy to drag a tire over the snow and ice. I just assumed my parking brake was frozen. The second time happened right after a car wash to get all the snow grime off. I stopped in a parking lot to eat a taco bell burrito and it wouldn't move 5 min later. Possibly moisture related? It looks as if the shoe is seizing to the drum. The Toyota dealer unfroze the drum. I am currently arguing with them trying to get the drum or at least the shoes replaced in the rear. Its clear its not a parking break issue, but a shoe/ drum issue. The service manager also repeated several times that this is not a warrant-able issue... I say BS. This is not a maintenance issue or a wear item that needs replacing. This is a DEFECT.

I will keep you updated.

 

Yeah if its locking up it IS a problem not like shoes/pads...keep the pressure on them...Good luck!

 

These dealers and their take no responsibility approach and Toyota's lack of acknowledgment of issues is just plain Bullshit!

 

this is potentially serious. i would do two things to bring attention, and you may benefit:
1- call Toyota corp and get a case number.
2- contact NHTSA and put in a report, and tell Toyota corp you did, and share that report number.

 

I just popped it in 4lo and drove for a bit dragging/ rocking the tire. It wasn't a big deal on the snow and ice. I couldn't do a damn thing in a pavement parking lot.

 

I didn't really know what was happening at first. Like I said it was really icy so dragging the tire was less noticeable that you would think. At first I thought my 4wd was binding because I was trying to make a tight turn. I want really sure what happened until it happened again yesterday. I would have called roadside if it didn't pop loose. Keep in mind, I was essentially in the middle of nowhere. Roadside/ reception wasn't exactly easy to come by.

 

It seems to me water is getting inside the drum assembly and freezing. Either that, or you have a wheel cylinder problem. How many miles are on the truck ?

This problem should not be too hard to sort out.

 

moisture from that Taco Bell burrito.

 

The Truck has 32k on her. it was about 65 out the second time it happened.

 

Yeah, but Taco Bell is far more renowned for loosening things up than for binding...

 

32,000 miles ? Yeah, the issue "may not" be covered under warranty depending upon what they find.
....and it happened when it was 65 degrees outside? Well, that rules out freezing water. Sounds like a wheel cylinder seizing up. Ever had the truck in salt water? Maybe on a beach or something ?

 

Yep, it'll depend on what it turns out to be. I'd also be curious if it was a corroded parking brake cable..

 

Bet its a bad abs sensor.

 

Drum brakes are pretty damn simple. Unless the shoes are adjusted out way too far for some reason, there is a whole lot of force keeping those shoes away from the drum. If it is stuck on a relatively new truck, it has to be an issue with the cylinder or parking brake seizing.

I agree this should be a warranty issue. Rear drums "wearing" after 32k miles is laughable.

 

Also just a heads up towing a 4wd truck that is really bad for them they should have put the front wheels on dollies can tear up the diff and transfer case like that.

 

Mike Sweers said drum brakes are superior to disc brakes.

Hey if your rear diff won't seize up, maybe our rear drum brakes will.

 

and because of this I'm watching for the inevitable rear disc upgrade kit. anytime now...

 

truck shouldnt lock up with a little water...otherwise they'd say dont drive it in the rain/snow/slush etc...theres other problems there especially at 65degrees.

 

I bet they were improperly adjusted to take up the slack for the parking brake lever. There's a star wheel with a ratchet mechanism linked for adjustment on most all modern drum systems.

 

Had this happen with my 2006 SR5 4wd on a few occasions. After travelling long distance on gravel roads and engaging the e-brake it would get stuck on. Seemed like the drums were getting packed full of grit and jamming.