3500 brakes grabbing

Butch 02 Denali · October 24, 2005

Just picked up a 99 3500 (OBS). It's got a severe left rear brake grab but only when cold. It's so bad that even lightly stepping on the brake will lock-up the left rear tire. Once it is driven for a short time, the brakes are fine with nomore lockup and it stops straight without any pulling. I already redid the fronts and am about to get into the back. Anybody got any ideas why they only grab when cold?

The snows comming soon and this is one of my plow trucks!

builderpaul · October 24, 2005

Just picked up a 99 3500 (OBS). It's got a severe left rear brake grab but only when cold. It's so bad that even lightly stepping on the brake will lock-up the left rear tire. Once it is driven for a short time, the brakes are fine with nomore lockup and it stops straight without any pulling. I already redid the fronts and am about to get into the back. Anybody got any ideas why they only grab when cold?

The snows comming soon and this is one of my plow trucks!

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I have had 3 OBS 3500s (plow trucks) all of them did that, especially if put away wet. I just ignored it. Like you said after a couple of stops they are normal again. I was told leaky axle seal would cause it but after tear down (those 1 ton brakes are a bitch to get the drum off) there was no sign of any leak. Never seemed like that big a problem so I never looked into it further. Over 140K miles on them all with no other brake problems.

Butch 02 Denali · October 25, 2005

Yes i agree that doing rear brakes on 1 tons is a bitch!!!

I guess it's more of a common problem if your 3 did it Paul. Funny my 1990 3500 has never had the problem, must be some reason why some do and some don't. I guess it could be an axel seal, but there's no sign of a leak and the fluid is right where it should be. I guess I'll pull it anyway just to be sure and throw some new shoes in!

bigbusiness · November 11, 2005

I got a 90' 3500 and it does the same thing when you first start driving it. After you use the brakes for a couple minute it goes away, never knew why it did that though, but it doesn't seem like a big problem so I ignore it for the most part.

SS Crew · November 11, 2005

I had an '89 3500 dually and mine did it so bad it almost made me spin out on the freeway. It turned out that the brake lining broke off the shoe and was wedged in such a position that when the brakes were applied, it would lock the wheel.

Luckily it was a warranty item.

Come to think of it, that truck was a POS and Chevy bought it back.