Freelander sticking brakes

My mate has probs with his rear brake shoes binding, quite severely, but only after it rains. If it is in his drive overnight, having been parked up when dry,and it rains overnight, the rear brakes are stuck on. He has adjusted and changed and greased everything he should but could it be cheap shoes absorbing the water and swelling? Only happens if it rains, never when the weather is dry. Any thoughts?

crashbox said:

My mate has probs with his rear brake shoes binding, quite severely, but only after it rains. If it is in his drive overnight, having been parked up when dry,and it rains overnight, the rear brakes are stuck on. He has adjusted and changed and greased everything he should but could it be cheap shoes absorbing the water and swelling? Only happens if it rains, never when the weather is dry. Any thoughts?

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They are rusting together. Have him use wd-40 to displace the water.

john winsemius said:

They are rusting together. Have him use wd-40 to displace the water.

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You reckon the shoes are "rusting" onto the drums but there is no metal on the shoes so how can this be? My thoughts were that they were swelling with moisture/water/rain and sticking.

crashbox said:

You reckon the shoes are "rusting" onto the drums but there is no metal on the shoes so how can this be? My thoughts were that they were swelling with moisture/water/rain and sticking.

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are you not more concerned about the suggested use of a lube on a brakes surface?

crashbox said:

You reckon the shoes are "rusting" onto the drums but there is no metal on the shoes so how can this be? My thoughts were that they were swelling with moisture/water/rain and sticking.

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does he have metallic or cermanic brkae shoes?

Is his drive flat? I had this problem last year and just left it in Gear overnight and lightly applied the handbrake (one notch on the ratchet). and it cleared up after a week or so.

my wife's freelander had the same problem i told her not to pull the handbrake on so tight and the same thing it has gone away and it does stop as i never lubed the brake linnings

The shoes fit against the backplate at three points on each shoe & they are like raised dimpled pads. Unfortunately they rust & cause the shoe to bind to the backplate especially overnight after it's rained. The solution is to strip the shoes down, emery the backplate "pads" clean & use a little copperease. Also make sure the handbrake pivot mechanism is free & clean then a little copperease. I've just done mine & it's cured it. Also check along the length of your handbrake cables to see if there are any splits which might have let moisture in causing them to seize.
My money's on the backplates followed by the pivot.

Thanks guys, I will pass this on. There is no way I would contaminate the surface of the shoes with WD40 or anything else.

john winsemius said:

Would you spray wd40 on you regular brake pads?

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Hell no!! I'd soak the buggers in EP90 for 24 hours

Suris said:

Hell no!! I'd soak the buggers in EP90 for 24 hours

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Steady now, some cupid stunt may follow your advice.

crashbox said:

Steady now, some cupid stunt may follow your advice.

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Ooooppps You're right crashbox.

Hi everyone, firstly I want to offer a HUGE thanks to those who have posted positive advice regarding this issue. I had this problem on and off for four months and I don't regard myself as a competent DIY mechanic so I just kept returning the car to the local garage but, despite paying out a shed load of cash for labour, new drums, new shoes and new handbrake cables it still kept happening and finally thanks to all the comments made here I reckon I have solved it.
I removed the shoes and thoroughly cleaned the back plates with brake/carb cleaner then lightly sanded them down and removed the surface rust. I then lightly sprayed them with some matt black paint and when dry applied some copper grease.
It was only when refitting the shoes that I noticed the handbrake cable pivot mechanism on the drivers side was completely siezed so with a bit of WD40 and wet/dry sandpaper I cleaned it up until it moved freely. I have been driving around for a couple of weeks now and had no further problems. The brakes are nice and firm and the handbrake locks the wheels on the 3rd notch.
I feel that I owe the repair to the guys on this forum - I could not have done it without you. I have emailed the garage associated with previous repair attempts to voice my complaint but as yet have heard nothing back.