My poor van's been standing in the same spot since last August – on an incline on my drive. I've tried today to get things going again. Managed to get the engine started pretty easily and is ticking over fine BUT I can't get it to move! I guess the brakes are seized as it's been standing too long, I've tried stabbing the throttle but nothing budges.
So can anyone help, what do I need to do? Is there an easy way of freeing them or is it a matter of wheels off, stripping down etc (which might be a problem as the front right is close to a wall)
I remember now about not leaving the handbrake on when it's left standing for a while – oops
Last edited by uniB on 16 Apr 2010, 19:35, edited 1 time in total.
hi there,
i think if it were my bus the 1st thing i would do is gt it off the incline if at all possible as you'll need to jack it up to unsieze the brakes. i know this sounds a bit dumb cos you can' t move it but is it facing up the incline or down?if its facing downwards then try and chock the front wheels and then jack up the rear and remove one wheel at a time . when you have the wheel removed get a hammer and tap the brake drums with it.dont hit it really hard as you risk cracking the drum but you should find that it will free off . once you have it rotating put the wheel back on and do the other side.a word of warning though ,be very careful using a jack on a slope of any kind. if you can place wooden blocks under the sill section to support the bus in case it slips off the jack.you'll probably find its only the rear brakes that are seized and once you have freed them of you'll be able to drive it ok. hope this helps,mel.
It is facing down the incline, I will make sure I add some blocks under the sill and also chock the wheels I haven't removed.
I just noticed that the handbrake light is going off on the dash when the handbrake is off - is that normal? I'd expect it to stay on if it's seized up??
Thats an awkward spot if you're on a slope. Agree with above, case of freeing off each wheel in turn (likely be back ones to be honest). Alternative 'rough and ready' solution is to get someone to pull you with their vehicle at same time as you try and pull off - they usually free off with a loud 'THANG'. If not, it'll just slide
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This happened to me the other day. Ended up calling out a breakdown guy who got a big hammer and a metal bar out of his truck, inserted bar through holes in wheel to make contact with hub, and then whacked the end good and proper a couple of times. Job done.
a good whack with a hammer usually works but DEFO chock the front wheels with a brick or two or get a helper to sit in the van and operate the footbrake when it ll lets go
regards doug
Well chunk of metal hit with a hammer through the wheel hasn't worked, nor has nextdoor neighbour trying to pull me up the drive with his Subaru (just result in a fair bit of clutch smell ), so next it's wheels off I s'pose...
Start van and press really hard on the brake pedal. The brake pedal applies a much greater force to the brakes than the handbrake ever will and will usually move them enough to free them.
Mark.
I'm Not A Complete Idiot... Some Bits Are Missing!
Well I don't know which technique actually did it 'cause I tried them all – but we're moving again The rear wheels seemed to be moving OK when I jacked it up and got the wheels off, front ones I 'tapped' with a hammer – then tried the suggestion of pumping the brakes some and that all seemed to work, we managed to splutter up the path!
), so next it's wheels off I s'pose...
