Brakes grabbing going forward but not reverse

[Roadhawg011]

My TJ currently goes a few weeks to a month without driving, just because I'm busy with other stuff. But sometimes after a period of sitting still, the brakes seem to "grab" when applying them. Like there's nothing...nothing....nothing... GRAB and almost lock.....like a vehicle with old drum brakes in front. The weird thing is that it seems to only do this going forwards....braking while reversing feels normal.

Before driving down my street and pumping hard on the brakes seemed to fix it....but I'm a little wary of ignoring the problem (brakes being pretty good for your personal safety and all). What should I be looking at/for?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Interested in what @mrblaine would say about that problem...

 

[mrblaine]

My TJ currently goes a few weeks to a month without driving, just because I'm busy with other stuff. But sometimes after a period of sitting still, the brakes seem to "grab" when applying them. Like there's nothing...nothing....nothing... GRAB and almost lock.....like a vehicle with old drum brakes in front. The weird thing is that it seems to only do this going forwards....braking while reversing feels normal.

Before driving down my street and pumping hard on the brakes seemed to fix it....but I'm a little wary of ignoring the problem (brakes being pretty good for your personal safety and all). What should I be looking at/for?

Pretty common with rigs that sit. A layer of surface rust builds up on the rotor face and drum face. It adds a high level of friction for a stop or two until it gets scrubbed off by the pads and shoes. The reverse issue is likely due to the grain of friction surface being worn in going forward and not grabbing the same on the rust in reverse along with the rear drums if equipped simply don't work as well in reverse.

What you should be looking for is to drive it more often, keep the brakes dry, and do a couple of hard stops before you get out into traffic to clean the rust off.

 

[Roadhawg011]

Thanks! I still havent had a chance to get it out of where it's sitting since I posted that thread, and won't for another 2 weeks or so. I'll see how it goes and give the lines a good looking over as well just in case there is a leak somewhere.

Appreciate the advice!!!

 

[Mad Mac]

After sitting in the garage, backing out downhill
the front wheels lock and the back wheels keep pulling them.
I shift into neutral and roll on out
to keep from plowing up the gravel.

 

[mrblaine]

After sitting in the garage, backing out downhill
the front wheels lock and the back wheels keep pulling them.
I shift into neutral and roll on out
to keep from plowing up the gravel.

Better for all things if you just reach down and pop it into 4 high. That way the front brakes work on the rear tires, you don't plow gravel and you have control. Your situation is different than his in that you are trying to make the back brakes do the work the front brakes are supposed to do. They can't do it so the fronts lock up. Which is the exact issue you would have if your rear brakes were the same size and effectiveness as the fronts and you were going down forward.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Appreciate the advice!!!

Mrblaine doesn't give advice, only facts.

 

[Mad Mac]

Thank you, Sir. I will try that.
However, if it works, I think it will be because
the front wheels are driving and opposing the front brakes
keeping them from locking up.

 

[mrblaine]

Thank you, Sir. I will try that.
However, if it works, I think it will be because
the front wheels are driving and opposing the front brakes
keeping them from locking up.

No, it works because you have now tied the front and rear brakes together or rather the front and rear axles together through the transfer case. Which by the way does not have any differentiation, just straight input and outputs. What goes in, comes out either 1-1 or whatever the low range ratio is. When the front and rear are tied together, you can use the front brakes to lock up the rear tires, well mostly depending on side to side traction but most certainly if the axles have lockers engaged. Not really applicable in this scenario since 4 high will get the job done nicely.