Seized rear drum brakes

[fred]

My Manta has been in its little council garage for the last two weeks or so.
Apparently some time around 3 weeks ago, there was a absolute deluge which flooded the area by my garage
I didnt know was in Derby at my Uncles house for the whole day sorting out his over grown garden.

Came back, the 'flood' had dispersed, so unknown to me - My old Manta was sitting in 3 foot of water
Opened the garage door two days ago to pull her out and wash and give her a good run.

I found a tide mark, 3 inches up from the bottom of the doors. opened the door, and it smelt like a stagnant pond.

And water in the rear footwells, and very damp chairs. I swore a lot
got in, started he up, and tried to back her out, Nope brakes had seized (guess water)

tried the smacking the back plates with a mallet - Nope no beans not happening

So tried the high rev drop clutch method, one 'pinged' after a few attempts But (I think) the NSR one is still steadfast

Clutch was starting to get hot N smoky, so stopped that idea.

Any other idea's on how to free it up, I havent got any room on that side to jack it up, (6 inches from the wall)

Cant trolley jack it out (step onto the road)

need to come out pretty quick as I need to dry the poor thing out

[doobie]

If its like my 1100 which also had seized rear drum there is an adjuster 1/4 square bolt on the backplate loosen this off problem solved, later brakes have a knurled knob in a hole in the back plate . either way problem solved. just remember you will have no brakes on that side until you re-adjust...

[ChrisT]

I'd persevere with the hammer/brake method, sure it'll work eventually or could you drag it out with another (more powerful) vehicle, that might free it up.

[fred]

Jul 26, 2014 20:08:19 GMT doobie said:

If its like my 1100 which also had seized rear drum there is an adjuster 1/4 square bolt on the backplate loosen this off problem solved, later brakes have a knurled knob in a hole in the back plate . either way problem solved. just remember you will have no brakes on that side until you re-adjust...

Ahh! May well be, I'll jack her up tomorrow and investigate
Nice one mate, Sometimes (most times) I'm oblivious to the obvious!

[fred]

Jul 26, 2014 20:11:52 GMT ChrisT said:

I'd persevere with the hammer/brake method, sure it'll work eventually or could you drag it out with another (more powerful) vehicle, that might free it up.

If the above comment fails - then its I guess a chain and Forester method!

[ChrisT]

Brute force and ignorance - can't beat it;)

If memory serves manta drums don't have an adjuster bolt but do have an access hole that may or may not allow you to get to the adjuster mech inside and release it with a screwdriver, but I could be wrong.......

[fred]

Jul 26, 2014 20:21:34 GMT ChrisT said:

Brute force and ignorance - can't beat it;)

If memory serves manta drums don't have an adjuster bolt but do have an access hole that may or may not allow you to get to the adjuster mech inside and release it with a screwdriver, but I could be wrong.......

I will carry on with the former then mate, It the access Ive got trouble with as the garage has a 6 inch step, and the Manta is lowered 20 or so mill so Trolley jack could be a real bum ache trying to wangle it under the rear valance, So Hammer and much Saxon language will ensue..

[Mantasport]

Early Manta's had manual adjust rear drums later ones are auto adjust.
For the early ones i think its about a 17mm bolt head on the backing plate towards back of car mid way up.

Normally hitting the drum itself will free the shoe enough for it to roll a bit. Can you use the trolley jack to get it away from the wall a bit.
Then drop the wheel off to give the drum a whack.

[fred]

Jul 27, 2014 7:00:40 GMT Mantasport said:

Early Manta's had manual adjust rear drums later ones are auto adjust.
For the early ones i think its about a 17mm bolt head on the backing plate towards back of car mid way up.

Normally hitting the drum itself will free the shoe enough for it to roll a bit. Can you use the trolley jack to get it away from the wall a bit.
Then drop the wheel off to give the drum a whack.

Tried the trolley jack today, cant get in underneath due to the 6 inch step and the lowered springs - Hitting the rear valance - If I fail tomorrow to free her from the garage - I'll call in the professionals !
Hate doing that mind - makes me feel a failure but needs must - Sun is out and it needs wet vaccing

[fred]

Well spent 2 hours inside the boot hanging over the rear arch with a long drift and big hammer
just about got it between a gap in the wheel, and bashed - bashed - bashed.
No ping, started her up and chucked her into reverse - car lifting up rear wards, then a slight movement.
clutch started to smoke up again, but I have hope. Tomorrow it WILL be out. either way.
IT WILL BE OUT!!

[DavidB]

They can be stubborn - if the handbrake cable is solid, you might want to cut it to slacken the shoe against the drum. Depends if you can get new cables!
I spent a good 20 minutes of pure "brute force" before I got mine to budge on an OTR Astra mk3.

[Midas]

My money would also be on the handbrake cable being seized on, it's a long time since I had a RWD GM car so can't remember if the cable is exposed anywhere allowing you to see if it's still taut with the handbrake released. If it is a good dollop of penetrating fluid and a few taps along the tight cable with a hammer may get you rolling.

[Mantasport]

Handbrake cable on a manta is fully exposed the full length, there is no outer cable and so they don't seize under the car anywhere.

If it was parked with the handbrake on before the flood, the handbrake lever arm on the back of the rear shoe may have seized to the brake shoe holding it in the ON position.

Rather than burning out the clutch go to the idea of towing it out a little. Even if you just pull it far enough to jack it up and get the wheel off rather than fully out.

[fred]

Jul 30, 2014 7:32:58 GMT Mantasport said:

Handbrake cable on a manta is fully exposed the full length, there is no outer cable and so they don't seize under the car anywhere.

If it was parked with the handbrake on before the flood, the handbrake lever arm on the back of the rear shoe may have seized to the brake shoe holding it in the ON position.

Rather than burning out the clutch go to the idea of towing it out a little. Even if you just pull it far enough to jack it up and get the wheel off rather than fully out.

Indeed the handbrake was on before the flood arrived. and after an hour of using a drift kneeling inside
the boot, with sweat pouring off me, and several %^&*£" missed blows which had colour my hand a nice purple colour.

I got out the boot, had a middle aged hissy fit, and pulled The Forester round, hitched a strap around the back axle, and hooked it to the tow bar of the Subaru, and dragged her out -
Blocked the access to the garages for a while, but only one neighbour drove round to see a wild haired 6 foot 18 stone bad tempered git, pulling the strap off.

I jacked it up took the wheels off, and with a lump hammer and long pry bar between the studs loosened them up. JOY!!! they were free! The off side one was still dripping water out, will post up some pics of the tide marks tomorrow. Gonna take some drying out, May need the carpets replacing, I just got in onto my driveway and called it a day. And had a shower and a beer!

Shes mobile again - I will assess what else needs doing on the morrow
Thank you all for your insights and great advice

[ChrisT]

Glad you've got it sorted, hope it all dries out ok and hasn't caused too much damage.....

[breng]

A good opportunity to check over your rear brakes methinks?

Glad its sorted.

[fred]

Jul 30, 2014 20:16:19 GMT ChrisT said:

Glad you've got it sorted, hope it all dries out ok and hasn't caused too much damage.....

Checked all the Electrics they seem all good.
Speaking to my Neighbour Howard, who has a 2 year old Focus, he said he pumped 5 gallons of water out of his
As the Manta is a good few inches lower than a Newish Focus I can see a carpet replacement, But I will assess it tomorrow, Just glad its on the driveway now. Phew!!

[fred]

Jul 30, 2014 20:26:25 GMT breng said:

A good opportunity to check over your rear brakes methinks?

Glad its sorted.

Oh yes Deffo needs new rear brakes!!! and a good handbrake lubrication!
Soon as I get the Frogs and sticklebacks out the rear footwells

[dodgerover]

Where on earth did that much water come from? I'de be trying to do something about that before putting it back in the garage

[fred]

Jul 31, 2014 16:33:09 GMT dodgerover said:

Where on earth did that much water come from? I'de be trying to do something about that before putting it back in the garage

Its at my (was parents House) I bought it off them so they could move into a bungalow, and in all my 45 years of knowing it, I have never known it flood
But the rain which hit it was like a 4 hour cloud burst apparently, was out on the driveway today airing it out, and Henry the Next door chap came out to see why a soggy Manta appeared.

He said the Council came round last week, and cleaned out the drain, someone had dumped a shedload of chip fat and it had kinda narrowed the drainage pipe down by 6 inches.
Just looking at the garage with car out of it, there is a 2 1/2 foot tide mark. my spare battery I guess is fooked. Scared to look in my tool box, that was submerged as well.

And as sods law states the only day which I don't want it to rain was today, and after a couple hours airing
Yup - It rained