How to Solve the Problem of Truck Brake Locking?
2 Answers
Truck brake locking solutions: 1. Force start, increase throttle until the rear wheels move; 2. Remove the tire, use a hammer or similar tool to tap the brake drum a couple of times to loosen the contact surface between the brake drum and the brake pads. Reasons for truck brake locking: 1. Water ingress in the braking system; 2. Insufficient stiffness of the brake disc; 3. Improper fit of the brake pads. Methods to prevent truck brake locking: 1. After washing the car or when the brake drum gets wet in the rain, do not park immediately. Drive for a while and apply the brakes a few times to allow the moisture to evaporate, or when parking, do not use the handbrake. For manual transmissions, engage first gear, and for automatic transmissions, engage P gear; 2. Apply intermittent braking instead of slamming the brakes all the way, which not only wears out the tires but also makes it harder to stop.
When I encountered the issue of truck brakes locking up, I first slowly pulled the vehicle over to a safe area on the roadside, engaged the handbrake, and shifted into neutral. This situation is mostly caused by a stuck brake caliper or rusted brake pads sticking together. Once after a long drive in the rain, the next day I found the right rear wheel locked up, and tapping the brake drum freed it. If the rust is severe, you need to remove the tire to clean the brake pads—never force it to drive, as it can wear out the tire or even cause a fire. When washing the car, make sure to rinse the inner side of the wheel hubs, especially after driving on muddy roads. It's best to pump the brakes a few times every two weeks to keep the components moving, which helps reduce the chance of locking up.
