2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

[heyttown]

My durango sits parked most of the time unless I have hauling or taking the boat out where I cant use my car..The other day I was driving the durango and the brake pedal felt odd, but figured it was more because Im not used to driving it on a regular basis..I was coming up to a red light and had to jump on the pedal harder then normal..I would say borderline hard enough where the anti lock kicks in..When I was braking 1 rear tire would lock up and bark a quick squeel on the pavement about 5 x before I came to a stop, almost like the abs was making the tire lock up...But no abs light came on the dash. Fronts are rotors, and backs are drums if that helps.. any ideas on what to look for?

 

[Splat]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

Check for proper adjustment. That may be causing the pedal to feel funny. I would also pull the rear drums and make sure you don't have a wheel cylinder leaking. Fluid on the lining will cause brakes to lock up and do weird things.

When sitting at a red light the pedal isn't fading is it? Can you elaborate a bit more on what the pedal feels like? Is it mushy, harder than normal, fades?

Bill

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

Rust on the drum or rotors?

 

[rbh]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

Rust on the drum or rotors?

+1, take it out for a good drive and keep hitting the brake pedal to take off the rust from the drum and the slime on the shoes.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

It's also 9 years old. Have the brakes been serviced, meaning new pads and shoes, or you still running the originals? Here's one additional thing to remember. If you have had them serviced (or are going to), Durango front rotors cannot be turned on a lathe. They are meant to be a single use and replaced with new rotors (not expensive). If you turn them, you will have clacking/popping noises from the front end and the brakes will not operate properly.

 

[heyttown]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

I was thinking it was the rust build up also..I drove it a good 30 miles but that hard brake was withing the first 2 miles..I didnt think to try and lock them up on purpose after that. I will try and drive it again and recreate the problem..see what happens..Thanks for the ideas. I will post back when I get results

 

[DJ]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

"Locking up" the brakes does NOTHING to clean them. Ride them a bit. The key is to build some heat.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

I was thinking it was the rust build up also..I drove it a good 30 miles but that hard brake was withing the first 2 miles...

Yeah, exactly. That's when you first applied the brake and the rust was still there. My Impalas did the same thing, would have tons o'rust after sitting for even just a rainy weekend. But in that case, it caused my rear rotors to warp. Every time. You just had a rear drum try to lock up.

 

[heyttown]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

"Locking up" the brakes does NOTHING to clean them. Ride them a bit. The key is to build some heat.

I understand that, my post was meant to try and re-create what happened the first time.

 

[NYBo]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

Hard pedal may be the brake booster going bad, the locking rear brake may be brake fluid from a leaking wheel cylinder or gear oil from a leaking axle seal.

 

[Mntom]

Re: 2002 dodge durango strange brake problem

Sitting like that could mean you need to replace the brake fluid. Brake fluid is hygroscopic (meaning it will soak up moisture out of the air) and can cause the calipers and cylinders to rust. I saw one that sat for two days and it had one rear brake work and no others. I doubt the brake adjustment would change by it sitting there.