magnetbox

I was about to change the drivers side rear tire on my truck ('94 Ranger). I put the parking brake on, chocked the wheels and tried loosening a couple lugs with the short tire iron for the factory jack. They wouldn't budge, so I unchocked, removed the parking brake and tried to set off to the auto parts store for a better iron.

But it wouldn't roll. Seemed like the rear end was locked up-- though I can put it in reverse and roll backwards?!

I set and released the parking brake a few times, no luck. Then I checked the line to the parking brake--- seemed adequately slack when released, and taught when set. So I don't think that's the problem. Also, wouldn't a stuck parking brake prevent the truck from rolling backwards?

Did something seize up in one of the rear drums? It drove fine less than 24 hours ago-- how could wrenching on some lug nuts cause this issue?

This thread at yahoo answers suggests the auto-adjusters are the problem. Sound right?

jimbot58

The parking brake cable could be froze-this happened on my '86. This is the enclosed one that runs to the drum, not the open ones that hang under the cab. The truck would still move under power, but not roll on it's own. It was a bitch to get the drum off using lots of pounding, beating and plenty of cussing and swearing. What makes it worse is the fact that the shoes will wear a grove into the drum and leave a small ridge that it makes it more difficult to remove the drum. Try backing off the self adjusters to loosen the drum. There is a small access in the backing plate covered by a rubber plug. You need two screwdrivers to do this-one to push the actuator away from the adjuster and the other to turn the adjuster wheel.

This was a consequence for me of the truck being driven across streams, into mud holes, and also used to launch and recover a small boat at a lake several times. I checked the axle for water intrusion but ignored any possible corrosion to the cables.....