OK to ask questions about other makes?

[sunedog]

This is such a great forum and resource of mechanically minded people. I haven't found a comparable resource for other makes of automobiles.

I have a problem with a vehicle that is not my Mercedes. Is it acceptable to ask the question here? I believe the problem is generic and the answer may apply to any vehicle.

I won't throw out the question until I get some feedback from you folks.

Thanks.

[G-Benz]

We do it all the time...

I even asked about my lawn mower engine once.

Although sometimes these get posted in the "Open Discussion" forum.

But Fire away!

[sunedog]

Thank you. Since I see you've posted 3549 times, I'll consider you an expert witness and won't wait for any other feedback.

Vehicle: 1985 Mitsubishi Mighty Max Pick-up
Problem: I can't budge it.
Background: This is my "dump" truck. I drive it mainly to haul something to the local dump. It sits for weeks, sometimes months, between uses. I just drove it Mother's day weekend with no problems.

(Eureeka -- I just figured out the problem when I typed that last sentence. The key was what I used the truck for that weekend. I'll finish in case anyone's interested.)

Got in last night and started it up. Put it in gear and it wouldn't move. I don't think it's a transmission problem because I can feel the torque of the engine when I ease the clutch out and try to accelerate. Won't move in 1st or reverse. Feels like the brakes are locked up.

The last time I drove it was to launch a boat. Rear wheels were about half submerged at the ramp. Came back, parked it and put the parking brake on. I'm sure the rear shoes are rusted to the drums. Or at least some brake component is rusted.

So any tips on how to free it up? I plan to jack up the rear, put it on jack stands, take the wheels off and see if I can get the drums off. I don't know if there's a port to back off the self adjusters, but I'll find out when I get into it. I anticipate I'll have to use a hammer on the drums judiciously. Anything else I should prepare for?

Thanks in advance.

I would suspect the cable which actuates the parking brakes might be rusted up. Put the rear end up on jackstands and see if the cable goes slack at the front end, but doesn't move into the cable housings when you release the brake lever. If the cable does move into the housings, put the thing in low gear (still on the stands) and let the clutch out to break the shoes loose from the drums -- no more disassembly necessary. But if it is a corroded cable, you'd better be ready to spend a few days squirting PB Blaster or some other strong penetrating oil into the cables from the front.

[sunedog]

Follow Up

Put the truck on jackstands. Tried again to break the rear wheels free by putting it in gear and letting clutch out. No go. Was going to look for parking brake cable problems first, but couldn't really see too well with the wheels on. Removed rear wheels. One came off with no problem. On the other one, the wheel was rusted to the drum.

I took a BFH* and started tapping all the way around the rim. I tapped progressively harder and the wheel soon broke free. Good thing this is an old work truck. I wouldn't want to hit a decent wheel rim with a BFH*.

Tapped the drums on both sides until I could pull them off as well. Like with the wheels, one came off easliy and the other took some hammer persuasion. The drum was clearly rusted to the shoe on the driver's side. After getting the drum loose, the rear wheels spun freely. Put everything back together and took it for a short cautious ride. Everything seems normal.

From now on, after launching boats, I will either drive the truck long enough to dry out the wheels or I will make sure not to engage the parking break.

Thanks for letting me ask this question in this great forum.

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*BFH - Big F'ing Hammer (a term I learned working in a full service gas station when I was in high school).