Ramkat

1996 dodge ram diesel Cummings. Rear wheel ABS. Just got new tires brake shoes and drums. Now at low speeds the one right wheel will grab and lock up intermittently. The one brake shoe has already worn half way and has friction cracks. Replaced ABS Sensor. Bled brake lines and replaced with all new fluid.
What would be causing this? What else can I do?

thrashingcows

Sounds like either an E-brake cable is not releasing, or you have the brake set up too tight on that side. FYI this is the 1st Gen section.....your truck would be a 2nd Gen.....but we are much nicer over here.

NJTman

lol.... Yeah, We're nicer !

Two things come to mind, and have happened to me, causing similar brake problems.

1. E. Brake cable not releasing
2. E. Brake cable lever not releasing.

Either way, you need to replace that set of shoes again, and may even need to refinish that drum, as by now it's polished. Once it becomes polished, it will grab like no tomorrow.


Remove the drum.

Look at the lever that the E brake cable slips into, and actuates the shoes to move outwards. It should be sitting against the inside of the shoe at the bottom, where it meets the cable end. If it's pulled towards the center of the assembly, either the E. Brake cable is frozen in the sheath, the E. brake actuator in the cab is stuck, or the intermediate cable is frozen.

If all the cables check out okay, then the lever pivot, where it meets the backing plate at the top of the drum backing plate is stuck, and not allowing the lever to retract back towards the shoe at the bottom.

anytime I do a brake service, I disassemble the pivot, lube it up, and reassemble.

Our brake cables are NOTORIOUS for letting water inside, and freezing up. Not sure about the 2nd gen, but either way, I would buy new cables (if needed) from the dealer, as the aftermarket ones have not served me well.

thrashingcows

I put a set of Raybestos cables in the truck a couple years ago and they were the first ones in many years that actually had the little rubber boots over the cable ends to help keep water out.