Sticking brakes

[CMD82]

My 82 FJ60 pulls real bad to the right. I just wanted to rule out a sticking brake caliper or shoe. How do I tell if one of these is sticking? Just wanted to rule this out before I try the toe adjustment in the Tech section.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[dd113]

What happens when you apply the brakes at speed?

 

[CMD82]

Nothing really out of the ordinary. I just have a lot of peddle freeplay, before the brakes start to work. So nothing to really make one think that one of my brakes are sticking. It was just a thought as too why my alignment is so far off.
On a side note to adjust your toe in do the front tires have to be off the ground?

Thanks

 

[Man Jerk]

If you need to pump your brake pedal a couple of times to get it stiff chances are you need to adjust your rear brake drums. They are called "self adjusting" but adjusting them are part of routine maintanince. They use the parking brake to adjust them.

There is a little cap on the back of the rear brakes. Pull that out and adjust the star wheel with a screwdriver or something and adjust it until the shoes drag on the drums (you need to have the rear end off the ground). Now back it off a notch or two.

 

[swank60]

Check the temp of your brakes after driving for a while, if you think one of them is dragging. Get a bottle of water and squirt a little on the hub - if you get steam, they're running too hot, and you've got a drag. you can also just try a hand test - if the brakes are not dragging, you should be able to touch the hubs without burning your hand...