Brake problem

[Ravenfreak13]

After we started up the electra, we found that the brakes are jammed...the "brake release" "pull here" thing is stuck, and the floor breaks are stuck. WHAT CAN I DO?

[balthazar]

On the backside of the brake (the backing plate), down at 6:00 o'clock, is a little oval rubber plug. Wriggle it out and shine a light in there; get a look at what you'll be aiming for. It's a 'star wheel'. Get a brake spoon (looks like a wide flat-blade screwdriver at the end), engage the star wheel's teeth and move the other end of the tool, the one in your hand, down (rotates the star wheel up & away from you). This will retract the shoes away from the drum.

It'll take a while for each one to retract all the way (the star wheel won't turn anymore). Might make 6 revolutions, tho that's a guess, not knowing the thickness of the linings. Do all 4 wheels.

Electra should roll now, tho you may have to pull the car (in Neutral) to try and break things free. Don't drive it; with the shoes retracted all the way you won't have any brakes!

Post again here if that doesn't work.

[Ravenfreak13]

How do I get the brakes to actually function again.

[balthazar]

You have a few steps ahead of you first.

Retracting the shoes is temporary- driving it & braking firmly multiple times will adjust them to the correct spec, tho I would back them off of all-the-way-retracted first.

BUT, with any car sitting a good long while, I would pull each drum and check the brakes' condition: linings for rust & thinness, shoes for cracking,/ thinness, wheel cylinders for leaking, hoses for dry rot, steel lines for excessive rust, wheel bearings for wear & repack them w/ grease.

You want to drive it, right? What goes... needs to stop. Get the brakes in top shape- it's the first step.

[Ravenfreak13]

or i can just have a mechanic check them out...ill check it out tomarrow though

[76ChevyTrucker]

Raven, a word of warning and caution, doing a full-on brake job on an older vehicle like that isn't something that a lot of mechanics like doing in today's world. I know that it sounds confuzzling and like a pain, but changing brake shoes and hardware and wheel cylinders, ect. isn't that hard of a job.

[Ravenfreak13]

After actually lookinbg at the brakes, I've discovered that they are in good shape...they are just stuck...its so cramped under there.

[76ChevyTrucker]

considering the vehicle has sat for sometime, it might take some time and patience with getting on the brakes, then working the adjusters in, over and over again until you get it all worked free.

[balthazar]

Once they are freed-up, you HAVE to take the adjusters out, clean/wire wheel them really well and lightly grease them. They need to turn freely. How the linings?

Buick Al-Fin drums are quite likely the best drum brake set-up in history. No fade, big diameter (12"), trouble-freee, class-leading.

[76ChevyTrucker]

that I agree with.

[Sixty8panther]

I can't wait until the day I have a classic Buick with drums all around.

(1959 Buick of some sort!) http://i5.tinypic.com/20pq1oi.jpg

[balthazar]

Are you still looking at Oct 31st?