Brakes locked on stored C1

[Steven B.]

Trying to help a fellow move a C1 that he says has been stored over 10 years. The car has no engine, trans, or drive shaft. Emergency brake off but I am not certain if he had it on during storage and just released the handle. We tried pushing the car for 10 minutes front and back and it did not budge. We used his riding lawn mower, 12 HP??, and no movement at all with 10-12 pulls. He says he has to get it out tomorrow and does not have time to remove brake drums. Any quick suggestions?? (He has a tractor, but it is a New Holland. 'And he has a '73 and '84 to move, also. I hope they aren't this bad. I haven't seen them yet.)

Thanks!

Steve

[Peter R.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

How about using four of those wheel dollies? Put one under each wheel and roll the car out of the garage. They are conveniently available at Harbor Freight and probably at some auto parts stores.

[Steven B.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

How about using four of those wheel dollies? Put one under each wheel and roll the car out of the garage. They are conveniently available at Harbor Freight and probably at some auto parts stores.

Thanks, we would Peter but he has a trailer coming late morning tomorrow. The nearest Harbor Freight/Northern Tool to him is about 80 miles and he still has to get it on the trailer. I hope it has a winch!---if we get that far

Also, his brake pedal goes all the way to the floor--

[Edward J.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Steve, its likely if the E/brake was on the shoes are stuck to the drums. Jack the rear of the car up and remove wheel (s) and take a BFH and give the drum a few wacks to break it loose.

[Steven B.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Will give it a shot----uurrr a whack. Thanks!

[Jack H.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

I had this happen on my Chevelle years ago. The car was stored for probably a decade in an old, damp, humid garage. Emergency brakes were not on, but the brake linings had some metallic content and the damp/humid conditions of the old garage over the years essentially bonded the brake shoes/linings to the brake drums. It was in a tiny garage with no room to work on it. I put wheel dollies under it to get it out of the garage. From there I tried winching it on my trailer and bent the frame crossmember in the process, and was actually pulling the truck/trailer to the car as much as vice-versa. It would not budge. I then tried winching on the trailer with the dollies under the car, but wasn't on level surface and it was a pain to get it to go where I wanted. I ended up cutting the brake shoe hold down pins from the backing plates and taking the shoes/drums off as a unit. Even after the units were off, knowing I wasn't going to re-use any of it, I still tried to separate the shoes from the drums and they were very stubborn even then beating directly on the shoes themselves. Your mileage may vary.

[Paul J.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Steve, it sounds like your friend may be short on time. If the method Ed suggested does'nt work, put a wheeled hydraulic floor jack under the pumpkin (or two under each side of the axle) and roll it to the trailer. It goes without saying but be careful doing this.

Paul

[Steven B.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Update: I had to leave town and will return later Friday. He did not get brakes loose so I will help him when I return. Rumor is his knickers are soaked and don't think trailer showed but not certain. I will take my jacks, hammers, and PB Blaster over tomorrow or Saturday morning. Thanks guys!

[Joe R.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Update: I had to leave town and will return later Friday. He did not get brakes loose so I will help him when I return. Rumor is his knickers are soaked and don't think trailer showed but not certain. I will take my jacks, hammers, and PB Blaster over tomorrow or Saturday morning. Thanks guys!

Steve,

There are better penetrants than PB Blaster. Here's an article by Gene Manno that appeared in their chapter newsletter fairly recently:

Penetrating Oils by Gene Manno

[Troy P.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

If its a Powerglide car make sure it is not in park.

[Steven B.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Thanks! 'Just got home and will go to James' garage tomorrow am. Interesting about the ATF and acetone. There is quite a spread on those numbers! A shop that has built two engines for me always fills them with ATF if they are going to be stored.

Steve

[Steve L.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

I had to use a big gear puller to get the disc off my C3 for this same reason plus I made up an 2.5 inch angle iron lever bolted onto two studs and jacked the car up on this lever. Combination of gear puller, lever and a few whacks of BFG freed it up.

[Steven B.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Finally!!!---Last week got them (all 3!) rolling. Used 2 cans PB Blaster, 3 cans WD, a pry bar and finally a Chevy 1500 and chain to break them loose!

[Dick W.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Finally!!!---Last week got them (all 3!) rolling. Used 2 cans PB Blaster, 3 cans WD, a pry bar and finally a Chevy 1500 and chain to break them loose!

Dang, if it took that much for a Corvette, I am in trouble. I have a storage trailer with the brake shoes frozen to the drum. The drum is 16.5 in diameter and 7 inches wide. It's gonna take several gallons of penetrating oil

[Steven B.]

Re: Brakes locked on stored C1

Oooohhhh Dick--- I started with a 2 1/2 lb sledge and went to a 5 lb. That is when we got the truck. You gonna have a problem. Interesting, I went to two parts stores looking for a puller and they did not know what I was talking about. One guy even told me he had never seen a car with drum brakes.