Brake drum issue?

[wda04]

Hi all,

My VW Polo is a 2012 reg. On Friday my tyres were changed and this weekend I drove 100 miles to a friends, parked the car on a flat driveway and put the handbrake on.
I drove through a lot of heavy rain.

A day later, I tried to move the car and the drivers side rear wheel had seized and wouldn't roll. I slotted into reverse gear and moved backwards, and there was a loud ping, the suspension bounced and everything started moving again as normal.

I want to take it to a garage tomorrow to be looked at, as my MOT is on Saturday. Is this an issue with my brake drums (brake discs onky on front axle) or is there an underlying, more serious issue?

I didn't notice anything on the rest of the journey back, and my handbrake is working okay. I also didn't notice any other pressure on the wheels, or any spilt brake fluid.

My aim is to learn more about how cars work etc so this is a new issue that I'm trying to work out.

Thanks

[heebeegeetee]

It may be a chunk of brake lining has come adrift and then jammed between the shoe and drum, and then released due to your efforts, or possibly a wheel cylinder has leaked and deposited brake fluid on the shoes, causing them to stick.

[Mr2Mike]

This is fairy common with drum brakes, the shoes can remain stuck on the drum due to surface corrosion. Would be worth taking a look at the state of the brake shoes to ensure the linings are not delaminating, but there's probably nothing wrong with them.

[Scrump]

Mr2Mike said:

This is fairy common with drum brakes, the shoes can remain stuck on the drum due to surface corrosion. Would be worth taking a look at the state of the brake shoes to ensure the linings are not delaminating, but there's probably nothing wrong with them.

[shakindog]

Also seems to be a common thing with the polo after heavy rain.
Seen a few polos recently with the same fault.
Local garage and a rear brake check and clean should solve it

[Mignon]

Same problem with my Kia Rio. It has disks all round for the footbrake but also mini drum brakes for the handbrake inside the rear disks. They stick on like pigs if the car is sat for a while. Especially if I try to set off in reverse. Usually driving forward for a couple of feet knocks them off again.

[heebeegeetee]

It may be a chunk of brake lining has come adrift and then jammed between the shoe and drum, and then released due to your efforts, or possibly a wheel cylinder has leaked and deposited brake fluid on the shoes, causing them to stick.

[38911]

heebeegeetee said:

It may be a chunk of brake lining has come adrift and then jammed between the shoe and drum, and then released due to your efforts, or possibly a wheel cylinder has leaked and deposited brake fluid on the shoes, causing them to stick.

Erm..... Brake fluid is a hydraulic OIL - or a synthetic variant. How on earth does an oil cause brake shoes to stick?

OP - Handbrakes have been sticking on in damp weather for decades. The drums are made of cast iron - a material which is highly susceptible to oxidisation. When you park up in damp weather, the shoes are in contact with the drum friction surface, which then quickly starts to oxidise causing the shoe friction surface to stick to it.

Perfectly normal. Some cars are more susceptible than others, but nothing at all to worry about.

[wda04]

A very easy description! Thanks for the confirmation and I'm glad it isn't something to worry about initially.

My drums only look like they have surface rust, I'll still get the mechanic to check for deeper signs of rust before my mot though.

Thanks all!

[paintman]

Rusting to the drum is the main reason why caravans & other trailers should be left long term with wheels chocked to prevent movement & the handbrake off.
The shoes will stick to the drum & it can be very difficult to get them to release. The methods then necessary can damage the shoes.