My new to me 01 has what seems to be a morning brake grab issue. The grabing will stop after one or two applications of the brakes.
After searching DTR & other forums it I believe it is a function of the shoes. (Checked seals, drums are dry - no leaks/ and shoes surface clean - no rust).

Would you kind folks share with me your brake shoe experiences.

1. Have you seen morning grab behavior on your 01 (or earlier rear drum 2nd gen) ?

2. Did the behavior go away after you changed shoes? (what brand?)

Thanks in advance

 

Quit dring it in the morning

Actually , mine has disks all the way around but when i replaced them i went to ceamics and like them. I don't know if they are an option with shoes or not.

 

I have discs also and don't have any problem in the morning. But from what I'm told, the grabiness your feeling is rust building up on the insde of the drum from condensation.

 

I have drum brakes and they grab the first couple of times after wet conditions such as fog or light rain, I think moisture condenses inside the drum and makes them grabby, don't know for sure

 

Do they grab every morning?
Or only on mornings that are damp or had damp conditions the day/night before?
I (try to) wash my truck every weekend and experience grabby brakes for the first two or three stops Monday morning.
As BigBlue mentioned, this is nothing more than rust building up on the drum surface. Once a few stops have been made, the rust is cleared and all is fine.

Rich.

 

I have the rear drums, and I have the exact same thing happen. Every morning, and after work... basically anytime the brake are cold. The first couple times I hit the brakes, I get thrown into the windshield. I look forward to hearing why. I honestly don't think it is a rust thing since like I said, it happens every morning and most days after work as well.

 

Emergancy brake sticking?

Rich

 

Totally normal in damp conditions.
The drums flash rust overnight and will grab until the rust is worn off by braking.
Best strategy is to be aware of it and to gently apply the brakes first thing in the morning to clean the drums before you get in a situation where you need brakes that are under control.

 

I have driven cars with drums all around, they did not used to rust overnight or after 8 hours. Is there something unique to the materials of Dodge drums or shoes that makes so unusually corrosive?

That's why I am asking if anyone with drums saw the improvement with shoe brand change.

 

my 99 did it. its flash rust. my old ford would do it on occasion as well. its basically a result of the humidity condensating in there....shoe change had no noticeable effect in my case

 

I'm having a really hard time buying the dampness thing. I live in Austin, Texas where we have been having a drought for the last few months (see google: wild fires in Texas), and it has done it consistently everytime I get in the truck.

Now I'm not saying it isn't possible... just that it doesn't seem likely in my case. Of course, it really is no big deal, since it only happens the first or maybe first 2 applications of the brake pedal, but just something apparently some of us have been experiencing.

 

Glad I'm not the only with this problem.
.
.
Hold both peddles (brake/accel) to the floor for a few seconds each morning and clear the rust off.

 

The symptoms happen when I do not use the emergency brake overnight. And the emergency brakes seem to work well whenever I use it - which is infrequently (application & release ok). I will set the e-brake overnight see if makes any difference (having shoes & drums make contact overnight, that may affect condensation).

Becaus of my past drum experience on other cars, I suspect the pads are the ones that somehow change surface composition. But as 67HotRod said, I can live with it - just make sure to ride out with the brakes applied (shift into drive with brakes on).

 

Totally normal wet or dry.

 

95 dodge 1500 gasser, 98 dodge 1500 gasser, 2000 2500 CTD, rear brakes have grabbed in all of em. figure its moisture. have checked at length for any problems. none, no gear oil, not worn pads, have changed pads, still the same. i have dealt with this problem since 1997. im used to it and it no longer bothers me at all. i always ride the brakes for a few feet anyway now, gets heat into the fronts as well.