Trouble today with brakes

[sperry14]

Evening everyone- so today took my 65 tr4a ( non servo) out for a spin tbh it was the first time in about 5 months… when I reversed out the brake pedal felt very solid …. I went about 3 miles before the car was progressively getting more and more “ held back” I managed to pull into  a side road. Car was in neutral no handbrake and was stuck solid …. After 20 mins I started and reversed car where by brakes appeared to free .. pedal was not solid felt normal and made it home .. question… before I tear down everything where would you start  and look for what ? Thanks in advance

[MichaelH]

Sounds like your rear brakes have got tight , maybe a bit of rust on the drums, as you drive it all heats up gets tighter then locks solid

20 mins to cool off, reverse to move the drums round and then almost normal on the way back

So check the drums and clean and readjust

MichaelH

 

[sperry14]

Many thanks 

[Ralph Whitaker]

Could also be a piston seizing in one of the brake cylinders.

Ralph

[Bobble]

I had exactly the same problem and, after stopping for around 15 minutes, had to force the car forward to release the brakes.

A thorough clean of all brake parts (especially the front pistons) seems to have done the trick.  There were suggestions at the time that the fault could be caused by an after market servo unit so worth looking at this if cleaning doesn't work.

[Lebro]

Another possible cause is the cylinder not sliding freely up & down on the back plate, sometimes a groove can get worn on the plate, which the cylinder catches on.
This can be fixed by welding in the grove, & grinding back to a flat surface.

Bob

[Tim Carr]

The seals in the master cylinder need replacing or a new master cylinder is required.

Tim

[tim hunt]

On 4/28/2025 at 8:34 AM, Bobble said:

I had exactly the same problem and, after stopping for around 15 minutes, had to force the car forward to release the brakes.

A thorough clean of all brake parts (especially the front pistons) seems to have done the trick.  There were suggestions at the time that the fault could be caused by an after market servo unit so worth looking at this if cleaning doesn't work.

OP stated his car non-servo.

Tim