I am wondering why my rear brakes only work in four wheel drive. Is this normal or is something amiss? '91 dakota sport 4x4 with 3.9

 

rear drum are a self adjusting... usually the adjuster fails or seizes up or just don't work. usually tho it only works in reverse I heard.... idk on that tho some say Ebrake play adjusts....

in 4x4 ur front will have power to stop entire...

 

Here is a little more info. I live in N.Y. And when in two wheel, i slide all over in the snow(even at 5 mph). In four wheel i stop on a dime. Just wondering why that is.

 

front lock and rear still power on... were as in 4x4 it will slow entire drive train from front brakes... I know I have same issue last winter...

 

Thanks a lot. I have a hissing when i brake also but I know thats the booster. I'll be replacing that. Four wheel drive in the snow it is.

One last thing. My truck when warmed up idles at about 250 rpm. Is that normal? When its a cold start it idles at around 900-1000, then drops when warm.

 

yours actually warms up? I removed the fan and my guage still dosent move much more LOL but no that's not normal idle is usually 700 or so when warm... AIC motor might be culprit there.... or might be the vacuum leak causing that

 

Had that problem when i bought the truck. Found it was the thermostat was bad and when they go bad they stay open. Replaced the original 190 degree thermostat with a 160.

 

Try adding some weight over the rear axle (3 or 4 bags of sand will work). The Dakota is really light and most of the weight is in the front so the back doesn't hold all that much when you hit the brakes and will slide out.

 

the rears are self adjusting, but only if you use the parking brake frequently so just engage/ disengage you parking brake many time repeatedly and they will adjust themselves. or the pads are shot/ drums are glazed. rear brakes on dakotas are ****.

 

yea if the adjuster didn't seize up like they usually do or the adjuster cable snap :O or lever bend.. in a perfect world yes they self adjust but remember its a Chrysler product....

I usually jack up the rear of the truck block front wheels put in neutral .. pop out the little rubber grommet and adjust mine every month till I feel it grab when turning tire . takes a few minutes with a flat screw driver