'59 Plymouth Forum

Guys,i got my 59 out today for its first run for 2006, as i backed it out of the garage it felt like it had sticking brakes,and the first few stops the brakes pulled and then it cleared up,i drove it around awhile and then parked at a coffee shop for about an hour,and when i went go home the brakes started to stick and pull again,and then it cleared up.
Its never done this before,any idea of what would cause this??

Bob,

This happens every time your car is parked for a long period. Maybe your garage isn't dry enough and the drums are a bit rusty. Every year when I pick up my car for the first time my brakes stick but after a while they work better and the problem is solved for another year. I guess this is the car's way of telling you "I wasn't made to be parked"!

Ron

Thanks Ron,i kinda figured it was something like that!

hmmmm, maybe rust, but rust usually won't come and go. it'll stick the first 3-4 stops then clear up. usually when brakes r touchy, which seems to me what ur describing is a fluid leak. the tires will seem to want to lock up when first applying pressure, but when crunched on will slip because of the oil interference. sitting for extended periods r hard on the rubber seals. i would check the brake fluid first. if the problem is really bad, it will sling oil inside the wheel rim. dot 3brake fluid will break down and provide little corrosion resistance in a rather short amount of time. just a rough estimate is, i would replace dot 3 every 2-3 years. i have serviced many brakes, on many different cars, so i have seen what the fluid turns into. if that is the case, u have to replace brake cylinders, put better fluid into it. (of course flush the system). put dot 4 or higher in it. the silicone in it will protect ur brake system a lot better than dot 3. the big three r using dot 3 less and less these days. even europeans i have been seeing with dot 4 and it weathers a whole lot better - day and night difference. or maybe u have and axle seal leak. depends what wheel feels like that has the problem. hope this info helps--jeremy