Need Advice ASAP

[Montana250]

My sister-in-law drives a 95 F150 XL 4x4 5speed. She was saying earlier how when she would try to move from a stop that sometimes the truck would just not want to move, but she found that when it was in 4wd that it would move but JUST DRAG THE REAR TIRES FOR A BIT!! She said this all casually and i about fell out of my chair. We live in Montana and there is snow packed on every road, so in all honesty its not at all hard to break traction. When she was leaving for the night I walked her out to see what the truck was doing... sure as s--- it drug the rear tires for about 5 feet until "metallic click" and they began to spin free.

My question:
I told her I'll pull it in the garage this weekend and have a look, i'm just curious if anybody has any definitive idea of what this could be? I asked her if she sets the e-brake (thinking sticky e-brake) and she said no, she just leaves it in gear. So I will be looking for anything incredibly obvious to jump out at me, but if there is nothing screaming in my face I am pretty clueless on what else could be causing this.

-she also said that after she got to work the other day it smelled pretty bad, i'm thinkin that was most likely brake smell, so i'm going to preliminarily rule out anything not related to the brake system... unless anybody thinks that's unwise...

any and all advice VERY APPRECIATED!!!

[Tyler]

Does it only do it when she first leaves? Either the back drums are shot and sticking, or the parking brake is not releasing.

[Montana250]

Just called and asked;
Yes, it is only when she first leaves, or when she shuts down somewhere for more than an hour or so, it does not happen at stop lights or stop signs.

And parking brake was my first thought too, but she doesn't even use it. So its never set, so it doesn't need to release (that would have been too easy of a fix... of course)

[Tyler]

Check it anyway, someone may have used it before and its still stuck.

[Montana250]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Check it anyway, someone may have used it before and its still stuck.

good call, a question for ya while your listening... to adjust rear drums don't you have to back up and slam on the brakes? (i'm thinking I'll just buy new shoes and hardware, i'm sure its due)

[Tyler]

For adjusting them? I don't really know that.. but take them apart, most likley the shoes are worn enough in the drum to cause them to stick... mine used to stick but wouldn't drag the tires, but as soon as I'd touch the brake in the morning it would lock the rears for a second.

[Montana250]

k, thanks for the input man!

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Montana250

k, thanks for the input man!

No problem, feel free to PM me for my number if you need help.

[CHUCK]

yea, their supposed to "self adjust" when you back up and lock the brakes down. If your gonna do the brakes anyway....adjust them so there is a light drag on the drum, should still beable to turn the drum. If adjusting is needed later....theres a rubber plug on the back of the drums. Remove it, and use 2 screwdrivers....hold up on the adjuster lock lever, and use the other one to spin the adjuster.

[GreenandClean]

my buddy has as 97 XL F150 and his started doing this this winter when it got really cold. It would stay locked and then when he got moving a bit it would turn the tire but he said that he had to drive it for a while and then after some time he would hear a "pop" and 100% normal again. It did this regularly the mechanic said parking break was freezing.