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1986 Dodge Sportsman Van - Brake problem


MonteH
02-08-2005, 10:41 PM
A friend is having problems with the front disc brakes on his 1986 Sportsman van. Frequently, the front brakes engage while the vehicle is being driven. The problem started with only the pass. side caliper but now both sides are dragging. Usually, when this problem occurs, the brakes engage tightly enough so that they and the wheels get extremely hot. But, on at least one occasion, the vehicle was just about immovable until he released the fluid pressure thru the bleed ports.

However, it doesn't happen all the time. For example, on his last trip he drove 15 miles with no trouble. After a short visit, he drove about 11 miles towards home and the brakes began to heat up. He just barely made it back.

Both front brake hoses are new. All remaining parts are probably original.
The rear drum brakes seem to be working fine.

Any help/ideas will be greatly appreciated.

tgbg
02-09-2005, 04:43 AM
If the brakehoses has been recently changed it might be dirt. If you are not careful small dirtparticles might get in to the system when the parts are changed. If your friend can release the pressure by opening the bleedvalve this is a probable cause. A piece of dirt can act as a valve and when applying brakes the pressure moves the dirt and brakefluid enters the caliper but when the brake is released the flow of the brakefluid moves the piece of dirt that gets in the way and prevents the pressure to go down.
To correct such a problem remove the brakehose at the caliper, by hand (some tool will help) push back the brakecylinder in the caliper so as to make the brakefluid flow out of the hole where the hose was. Install the hose and testdrive, repeat if neccesary. Note that just opening the bleedvalve and letting the fluid out that way will probably not help as the hole in the bleedvalve is to small and also in an angle in the bottom of the valve, this will prevent the dirt from getting out.
NOTE take good care to clean parts before disassembling so as to prevent dirt from getting in to the system.



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Tomas
B250 -89
Dart GT -64
Dart 270 -63

MonteH
02-10-2005, 09:14 PM
Thanks for the help. I'll pass this info along to my friend.

denz_310
02-12-2005, 12:31 PM
A friend is having problems with the front disc brakes on his 1986 Sportsman van. Frequently, the front brakes engage while the vehicle is being driven. The problem started with only the pass. side caliper but now both sides are dragging. Usually, when this problem occurs, the brakes engage tightly enough so that they and the wheels get extremely hot. But, on at least one occasion, the vehicle was just about immovable until he released the fluid pressure thru the bleed ports.

However, it doesn't happen all the time. For example, on his last trip he drove 15 miles with no trouble. After a short visit, he drove about 11 miles towards home and the brakes began to heat up. He just barely made it back.

Both front brake hoses are new. All remaining parts are probably original.
The rear drum brakes seem to be working fine.

Any help/ideas will be greatly appreciated.
check the caliper maybe the piston not working meaning not pushing back.

theFREAKnasty82
02-15-2005, 06:40 AM
the master cylinder could also give him trouble; the return spring inside the cylinder bore could've worn out or even broken causing the calipers to drag.

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