Technical 01 Ulysse O/S Rear Wheel Keeps locking - when driving too...

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Technical 01 Ulysse O/S Rear Wheel Keeps locking - when driving too...

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Guys,

I am hoping that you can help me.

The Rear drivers side wheel on my 2001 Fiat Ulysse 2.0 S JTD 16V (with ABS) locks on, even when driving, bringing the car to a halt.

We noticed it seemed to happen (at the start) when the vehicle was reversed and then driven forward. It also happens whilst driving and is dangerous. There is a loud bang and just grinds to a halt. People always stop and look thinking we have hit something.

On one occasion whilst my Wife was on the school run, one bloke got out of his car thinking that my Wife had hit him.

We have stopped driving the car (several days ago) as it is just too dangerous.

The handbrake works fine one minute (3 or 4 notches) with the tension it should, then the next, it would come right up with no tension, then having tension when applied, later.

At the start of all this, pressing the brake pedal, would seem to release the stuck brake. Now it doesn't.

My thinking, and I am no mechanic, is:

Break shoes
Handbrake shoe?
Wheel bearings
Gunk and rust build up.

I have had this car sevel months and the rear O/S wheel has always been a little dodgy. For example, when weight is carried (in the form of a passenger, especially an adult) on the drivers' side, rear. There would be a knocking.

Going on the above, and without actually seeing it, does anyone have an inkling about the fault/issue, please?

If there is a mechanic in the Port Talbot, South Wales area, who can do a Mobile servicen please let me know.

Many thanks.
 
If your car is fitted with drum brakes on the rear, I would suspect the lining of one of your brake shoes has broken up and become detached from the shoe. The broken lining can jam the brake drum without the brake being applied.
 
Thanks for your reply - Yes, sorry - I omitted that the rear brakes are Drums and Shoes.

I am not sure if there are brake shoes and seperate Handbrake shoes or if the Brake shoes act as handbrake shoes too.

I don't even know what braking system it is? Bendix??
 
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Drum brakes tend to have a auto adjuster for the handbrake, it looks like a spanner with the 2 prongs mating into notches on the shoes, I bet either it has been fitted wrong and not in the correct contact point with the shoe, possibly even broken, or maybe the 2 springs have snapped and the bits are snagging inside the drum.

Also if the brake linings are low and the drums are worn then the adjuster is at the end of its travel.

It's not hard to take off and inspect visually.
 
Thanks for your replies.

I have a Mobile Mechanic coming to have a look Today. So I will update the thread once he has had a look. It may help someone in the future, without the cost of what it is costing me, lol.
 
It was indeed the brake lining(s).

And the slave Wheel Cylinder.

Images attached.
 

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That certainly one of the worst I've seen for a long time, with that leak surely you must have seen it weeping on the inside of the wheel?
 
FF, I check the oil, water and Brake fluid levels regularly. In the time that I have owned it, the brake fluid has only needed a small top up.

I check the back of the drums, because on a previous ulysse, I had an advisory for a minute leak of fluid from the connection of the Cylinder at the rear of the drum. Turned out that there was never a leak, but it had me thinking that they are often overlooked in checks dy the driver.

The answer to your question is 'No' I didn't notice anything on the wheel.

However, in my defence (not ignorance), I do have a small engine oil leak and if anything was on the floor in terms of 'Patches' - I would have put it down to the oil leak from the engine. (We park in differing directions all the time, so the patches would be possitioned in different locations on the road).

I take pride in servicing my car and buying and replacing parts with new parts even before they have actually gone. I have children and will never cut corners on safety. But this is a worrying situation at just how easy, something as important as this (brakes) can be overlooked.

Thanks for your input, it is appreciated.
 
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That's really great WelshWizard - that at least gives me a general location where I should be looking either for an existing hole or to make one! I've seen a post somewhere that sometimes they make the stamping for the hole but do not remove it till it's needed?

Once again many thanks for the feedback!
 
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