Hi all,

I have a 2000 V6 3.0 Liter 4x4 Regular Cab Short Bed. Last winter I experienced a frustrating 'locking' of my brakes when it started to get cold. I'd start the truck, put it in gear, and wouldn't be able to move. I'd rev the engine, hard, and all of a sudden BAM! a big breaking noise and the truck would roll, drive on, no problem. One time it got so bad that the truck wouldn't move at all, I had to drag it with another, bigger truck until the wheels finally broke loose. So, I replaced the front brake pads, which were all rusty and horribly worn out (and the rotors were seriously grooved). End of problem.

Until this winter. The truck has been sitting for a few days, and this morning it did the same thing - stuck until I floored it in reverse, and then it broke loose with a terrific bang. I'm prepared to replace the pads again, but is this the issue? Are my calipers sticking, or is the problem in the rear drum brakes, which were completely replaced fall of 2007? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

try to find out what wheels is sticking. if you can. juack out the truck when the brakes are stuck and put it in N. then try to turn each wheel by hand. it sounds to me that either your cailphers are sticking or you wheel cynlinder. also does the truck sit alot. cause if it does you rotors and pads might be rusting together that could also do it.

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2006 FX4 LEVEL II screaming yellow 15X8 ion alloy wheels with 31-10.50/15 michelle Ltx tires, daul flowmaster pipes, spyder auto headlights, pioneer deck with one 12inch sub, leer cab.

That makes sense. I will try that. I thought it was the apds/rotors rusting, especially after I pulled off the pads and discovered that they were rusty and beyond worn out, but the problem sometimes happens when the truck sits for 15 minutes, not just over night or for days. I literally parked at the pharmacy, went in to buy something, came out, and it was stuck. Not horribly, but a little. I will try jacking it and spinning each wheel. Thanks so much.

Your rear drums are most likely the culprit. While I haven't had any real issues with mine, other than the occasional hang up/bang when I first take off, from what I've gathered it seems that Ranger drums are notorious for being temperamental in wet/cold conditions.

Some have done the rear disc conversion not for extra braking power, but because of this exact problem.

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ɹǝʌo ǝɯ dılɟ

i have rear drums now and had them on my 88 b2. maybe the return springs on the shoes are getting weak?

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2006 FX4 LEVEL II screaming yellow 15X8 ion alloy wheels with 31-10.50/15 michelle Ltx tires, daul flowmaster pipes, spyder auto headlights, pioneer deck with one 12inch sub, leer cab.

So maybe I should start by getting one of those adjustment kits, with return springs, and try that before i get into replacing calipers or wheel cylinders? I like that idea.

mine have done it once or twice, im thinking the drums froze when it got cold, only happened when it rained the froze and snowed, thats why if its wet out and supposed to freeze i leave the parking brake off

besides if it was your front brakes youd be burning the rear tires while trying to unloke the fronts

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2002 Ranger Edge 2wd | 3.0 v6 auto 8.8 4.10 L/S | 32x11.50 Mud Kings | 28% tint | Chevy Shackles | Cranked B T-bars | Westin Bull bar w/ KC longrange| Three-tone airhorns | air box mod | k&n drop-in | foglamp mod | explorer ohc | alpine headunit | 10" mtx thunder 4500/custom box | kenwood amp| 4 wheel disk brakes | line of fire

burning the rear tires - so true, and so obvious, but it totally escaped me. great, I'm going to rebuild the drums today, see if that works. thanks for all the help.

yep, mine didnt do it in the freeze we had here over the weekend, but i left the parking brakes off. only thing from when i replace the rear drum shoes is they woiuld lock up a lot while braking going down the road, and the i blew a wheel cylinder, so make sure you replace those too

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2002 Ranger Edge 2wd | 3.0 v6 auto 8.8 4.10 L/S | 32x11.50 Mud Kings | 28% tint | Chevy Shackles | Cranked B T-bars | Westin Bull bar w/ KC longrange| Three-tone airhorns | air box mod | k&n drop-in | foglamp mod | explorer ohc | alpine headunit | 10" mtx thunder 4500/custom box | kenwood amp| 4 wheel disk brakes | line of fire

maybe a brake flush with some fresh fluid might help... I have a similar problem but it's my front brakes locking up until the truck is warmed up...

Rafal

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Alot of times this problem is caused by water in the e-brake cable housing, freezing and not allowing the cable to release. That would be the last thing I would check though. On mine it was the shoes freezing to the drum.

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I have this with my Ranger occasionally. I had the drums replaced in the spring, and I'm thinking maybe one of the wheel cylinders is bad in the back. We had a bad rain/snow/temp drop one night, and that caused my brakes to freeze up and not let the truck move till I gave it some gas. Then "BANG!" and I was moving, no problems at all.

I do, however on cold/wet days have a brake that likes to be nice and extra touchy. Hit the brakes and the left rear all but locks up, making the tail of the truck kick out a lil bit. Its not too bad right now, but one of the things I need to take a look at here in the spring.

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2001 Ford Ranger XLT Stepside: Stock

I have had that same problem on really cold nights if I set the e brake

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2005 Ranger XLT FX4

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