Forum Discussion

KPruitt's avatar
KPruitt
Explorer
Oct 09, 2015

Brakes locked on Holiday Rambler

RV has only been setting for about two months
Air brakes will not unlock
Have hit drums with hammer
Have rocked RV back and forth
What can I do next to unlock brakes???
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Because of the info above, caging them will not help. If you are not willing to rock it back and forth more aggressively I would chock the wheels, release the brakes, and hit the drums with a large hammer in as many places as you can. If this does not do it then I would take a long chisel and wedge it under metal end of the brake pad at the S cam that applies the brakes with them released. A normal pry bar might just fit and if all else fails a small sharp chisel into the end of the lining at the drum surface will but you will mess up a little of the pad but not enough to hurt the braking.

    Your parking brake is on the rear axle only.
  • Yes have required air pressure, have set and released parking brake several times.
  • The best "preventive" is to use them/warm them up immediately before you park.

    Parking "cold" and even worse cold and damp is a receipt for "brake shoes will not release".

    Your hammer and rocking gently are the proper actions. I don't think caging them will have any impact, as I don't think it a failure in the air cans, but just that the shoes are sticking/rusting to the drums.
  • I assume you have adequate air in the system, and the parking brakes are off right?
  • Drums? Mine have before. Freightliner. I put it in reverse and mashed the pedal.