Took the van out today, put the handbrake on, came to move away, the brakes were still on, fortunately I was just down the road, so very slowly made it home. The rear brake are definitely not releasing, I checked the handbrake cables they are loose, so what do people think is going on?
I would be surprised if it was the wheel cylinders sticking them. That would be a tragic coincidence.
I've had two instances of brakes sticking on. First was when I swapped over my handbrake cables and the return springs were short so the handbrake didn't release properly. I'd been supplied with the wrong cables. It took a fair length of time to work out what was going on but I found the brakes would release by waggling the cables just ahead of the drums. That is until I applied the handbrake next time. Next was the star wheel springs were bent out of shape and the star wheels weren't holding the shoes in position and they were closing up. I don't think this would affect both sides simultaneously though. I fitted new backing plates which had new springs which cured it.
So I don't know what's going on here as I've just been out to the van, and you can push the van backwards and forwards easily, I've not done anything to the van.
For the sake of a half hours work, I would be inclined to whip the drums off, check and clean everything up, replace anything that needs it. Peace of mind and all that..
So to tell what happened in full, Took my Bay window out to test engine throttle cable, van moving freely, I stopped to check engine bay, so stopped van put on Handbrake, came to move off again and van wouldn't move, checked underneath, handbrake cables were loose, tried to move van again and it moved very slowly, rear brakes binding as I was a very short distance from home I limped home, the rear drums started smoking as I pulled on drive. I then left the van to cool down for a couple of hours, when I went back to the van I leant on the back of the van and it started to move, I could push the van forwards and backwards moving freely.
Probably best to change the brake fluid as well then. It turns to ******* if cooked by binding brakes.
It occurred to me that one issue not yet mentioned is perished brake hoses which collapse and won’t let the fluid out. Is that likely?
The clue is when the handbrake was released the cables underneath the van were slack, but rear wheels locked up. So fault is behind the brake drums. Probably rusted up due to non use.
This would be because you drove it when wet then parked up. The drums rusted as @mgbman says. For this reason, the lore of the bus says"it is better to chock the wheels and leave the handbrake off when storing a bus" Then although it makes nasty noises when you put the brakes on the rust quickly vanishes and the drum becomes shiny again.