Hi

 

I own a 2015 skoda Fabia with just over 30,000 miles on the clock, and for a few months now I've had issues with sticking rear drum brakes. This is a particular nuisance when trying to drive to work in the morning, which requires a bit of power to get to release with 2 bongs. I can even feel the 2 rear wheels flexing as I try to force them to release.  I even resorted to parking in first gear, but since my drive is on a slope I forgot the handbrake was released and started rolling forward when I tried to start the car.

 12 months ago I had the rear drum brakes cleaned and hand brake tightened, so it shouldn't need cleaning.    My car is still under extended nissan dealership warranty were I bought the vehicle in 2019, so I was wondering whether I'd be able to raise that issue with them?

Please let me know whether this is a common issue and what can be done to solve it.

Do you brake firmly or gently?

Do you do long or short journeys?

Is this getting worse the damper / colder it gets?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

This is currently happening on my mk1 VRS (not drums however) which I have now put down to the damp and cold weather after fitting return springs etc.
 

Does it go away after a few minutes of driving the car and braking? Mine has been sticking so when in first gear I have to drive forward, it then clunks and releases, I drive down the street and do a few sharp

stops and is then fine 😊

21 hours ago, AGFalco said:

Do you brake firmly or gently?

Do you do long or short journeys?

Is this getting worse the damper / colder it gets?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

I brake gently, but have recently braked harshly to try and clean the pads.  I normally drive short journey (to work) but drive at least 90 miles once a week. The sticking only occurs after parked for +10 hours

 

It doesn't get worse, it just sticks pretty firmly and requires a bit of power to release them together or one wheel at a time.

On 24/01/2021 at 14:26, photonic said:

12 months ago I had the rear drum brakes cleaned and hand brake tightened, so it shouldn't need cleaning.    My car is still under extended nissan dealership warranty were I bought the vehicle in 2019, so I was wondering whether I'd be able to raise that issue with them?

A lot of dust can gather inside the drum in a year. They are super easy to pop off and shake the dust out of. The internal surface of the drum then just needs a light sand with emery cloth. Have a look on Youtube for a tutorial on how to clean drum brakes. No more difficult than removing a road wheel.

 

Warranty? Brakes are wear and tear, so I dont think that will be an option.

 

Final point, how hard do you apply your hand brake? It only just needs to hold. I leave my cars in gear when parked and dont apply max pressure/force to the handbrake.

 

HTH

4 hours ago, photonic said:

brake gently, but have recently braked harshly to try and clean the pads. 

I am assuming you have rear Shoes / Drum brakes.

 

On 24/01/2021 at 14:26, photonic said:

common issue

Yes. All cars, especially when it is cold and damp.

 

On 24/01/2021 at 14:26, photonic said:

what can be done to solve it.

Try drying the rear brakes off just before you end your journey.

I do this by gently applying the handbrake while slowly moving to dry them off. 

 

Thanks, AG Falco

I also have this problem took it into garage sais they took a bit of the brake pads i think it was but still does it. Last week i didnt think i would get the car of the drive they were locked on very badly so ive started parking the car just in gear again.

I get this with my Mk2 2010 hatchback with drums....... with all this bad weather it has been doing it more, it is due a service soon so will get them taken apart and cleaned etc, i have been doing the same as you and leaving it in gear but ensuring i place a micro-fiber cloth on the gear stick so i remember it's in gear the next morning.

1 hour ago, Hudson1 said:

I get this with my Mk2 2010 hatchback with drums.......

If you have rear drums then it helps if you go forward first after leaving the car overnight.

 

Thanks, AG Falco 

Thankyou for all your responses.

 

After covering 560 miles a few days ago in 2 trips, when I returned to my car this evening I was unable to get the rear drum brakes to release (even when adding power in 1st and reverse. So I shall be contacting the dealer where I bought it from (since it's still under warranty) and get it inspected. I'll try again tomorrow, but since my drive is on a slope I'll be unable to remove the rear wheels. 

What lots of people do in this situation is to tap/hammer the rear drums.

 

If you chose to try this, make sure that you have the car in gear and the front wheels blocked so that it can not move on your sloping driveway.

 

Let handbrake lever OFF, find a length of wood that you can reach through the wheels if possible and strike the end of the wood with a hammer a few times aiming to rest the wood on the outer edge of the drum if possible, that should shock the shoes to release.

 

That is exactly what the AA etc would do to get you going - but as said already, these brakes, probably all of them, need to be serviced, so in the case of the rear brakes, drums off and swept surface cleaned back to shiny or slightly grey finish - it will currently have some black areas, all dust removed and shoes and linkage checked that all is still free to move. Lub where appropriate.

 

Edit:- you might even be lucky enough to hear the shoes releasing when tapping the drums hard.

Edited 30 January, 20215 yr by rum4mo

I have this problem too. Took it back to Skoda and was told it’s a common fault and to put car in reverse, move back a tiny bit and then drive off. It does the trick but it annoys me it happens!

Bump.   For @Tdawber

 

Then this,   

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/478186-does-the-mark-three-fabia-have-rear-disc-brakes

 

 Brakes do require Servicing and Maintenance be they Drum or Disc.  

Sadly that is not part of Main Dealer Servicing, it is an extra, or just too much bother for them.  A good independent is needed really for Servicing & Maintenance. IMO.

 

 

Edited 28 June, 20232 yr by toot