hello,

so i have a 2000 dakota. new to this forum and was looking to get some advice on what i should do. ive noticed lots of threads on brakes but cant really find what i am looking for...

basically my brakes are bad. i cant really figure out what is causing the problem. so here goes...

first the breaks are very sensitive and inconsistent. next, there is a sqeal that happens when i come off a stop up until i reach about 10mph. not really sure if my breaks are adjusted wrong or if theres a problem. so i started simple, i just replaced the pads and shoes about a month ago.

helped a little but then they started acting up again, ive done some research and cant figure out where the problem is. im currently in the process of replacing the rear break cylinders. my guess is that the cylinder is rusted and is keeping one shoe stuck open, but im not sure if that would cause the brakes to be soo sensitive.

thanks for the help
just wanna have normal brakes again... haha

 

i dont know brakes are really delicated and dangerous to play with it so i dont know what to said i would go with a mechanic

 

After a long trip do one or more of your brakes seem really hot?

 

I agree if feepss has no experience with breaks he should go to a shop and get an opinion of what is going on an estimate of work needed and parts needed.

Then decide if he can get the work done at home.

Breaks are easy to do on your own grab a shop manual and go for it.

Front breaks are easy to do start their back breaks are full of springs and tensioners and adjusters PITA I get a shop to do my back breaks I just don’t have the patience for that crap.

 

Besides the pads and shoes, what did you change? Did you lubricate the ridges that the caliper slides on? How about the drum brakes anchor pins and self adjusters? Any sign of leaks? How about from the rear axle seals (gear oil contaminating linings?).

How's the pedal feel? Where's the squeal coming from?

The flexible brake lines can cause inconsistencies. As they start to fail they may act as a valve and not allow fluid to release from the caliper/wheel cylinders. They can also ge soft and "spongy."

It's common for the parking brake cable to hang up and drag.

The front calipers can also stick in their bores.

 

I do my own breaks except the back ones I hate those springs and cables for $80 a shop can do my back breaks.

Now front breaks are easy to do but they have thier problems as 00DakDan has said the calipers can bind on you and cause problems lube those pins every year or they start to bind and cause uneven ware.

My knuckels were getting groves in them I had to file them down a bit this year and lube the surfaces up to get them running smooth again.

00DakDan I never heard that the flexible brake lines can cause my calipers to not release how does that happen because my calipers want to not release sometimes I have been thinking about replacing my 12 year old flexible break lines maybe its time.


some pics

 

well i have had this car for a while now and done all the maintenence myself. ive replaced the rear axle gears, heater core, radiator, front discs, and a couple other little things, so i know my way around the car its just that i cant figure out the exact problem im having with these brakes... i took them in already once and had them replace all the springs and the parts in the rear brakes, but about a month later they started acting up again.

the pedal feels too soft the first half of the brake, then too hard the second half. just not the same consistant pressure the whole way through the push.

now as far as any leaks theres none, i replaced the cylinders already and the pedal feels better, but i feel like there is still something that may not be adjusted correctly. after replacing the cylinders we noticed that the drivers side felt as if the parking break was on, but it wasnt, while the passenger side felt normal. not sure if that has anything to do with it or what it means.

and i never noticed it before but there is some signs of gear oil on the rear axle linings.

 

My brakes change on a daily basis. some days i can barely tap the pedal and lock up both front tires, other days I can have it through the floor with zero lockup. I've just learned to tap the brakes at low speed, and that's what they'll be doing that day.

 

98Dak, what happens is that as the inner lining breaks down it can separate and become soft. When you step on the brake you can force the fluid through easily but it can't get out as easily. It's like having a clogged artery or a check valve.

 

You know the answer. bad seals.

same thing happened on my s-10.

could also be worn hubs causing some break issues. causing auto adjusters to have issue when changing shoes.

I always always adjust the rear shoes to the point of almost catching when spinning the wheel by hand because of hub lip. then once a year jack up spin wheel and adjust if needed. cut a hole in the back plate if needed to get to adjuster.

hope this helps.

kilgore