2 yr old Citroen Relay brakes jammed on. How can I release?

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all

We have a Relay that is under warranty. We came to it the other day and it wouldn't move forward or backward. The handbrake also feels weird. It's as if the brakes are jammed on. We need to move it to take it into Citroen for repair but it's too big to be covered on RAC Policy etc. A friend told me to "belt the wheels with a lump hammer" which of course I don't intend to do. Does anybody have a suggestion of what the cause could be here and a temporary fix so I can release it to get it into Citroen?

Thanks in advance.

interstellaflyer

Surely if it's under warranty Citroen should arrange recovery,

Joe_Horner

Shoes sticking to the inside of the drums (usually from rust and quite common in damp weather).

Try pulling away alternately in forwards and reverse until they release (usually with a bit of a bang). Be careful that it doesn't suddenly shoot forwards or backwards into something when they do let go.

Or belt them with a lump hammer to free them.

BeenThroughItAll

Whip the rear wheels off, and !!!!!! the drums with a copper hammer. I wouldn't use a lump hammer personally, too much bounce. A copper or shot deadblow hammer is generally less effort.


Obviously, if the problem isn't just the handbrake shoes stuck on, then that may not help - but it's infinitely more likely to be the handbrake jammed on than anything else.

Ectophile

Another possibility that I have used in the past is to tip boiling water over the brake drums. With any luck, they will expand a bit and free the brakes.

Joe_Horner

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Whip the rear wheels off, and !!!!!! the drums with a copper hammer. I wouldn't use a lump hammer personally, too much bounce. A copper or shot deadblow hammer is generally less effort.

Agreed. I just felt like repeating the wording the OP had decided not to follow seeing as it's basically what's needed

thescouselander

+1 for the rocking backwards and forwards approach. Don't be afraid to give it a bit of welly to get it moving.

Norman_Castle

As above, try driving it backwards and forwards repeatedly. If you do decide to hit the drum with a hammer chock the wheels and release the handbrake first. Hitting the wheel nuts may have the same effect but be careful not to damage them.
Its likely only one brake it stuck. Either get someone to watch the wheels or look for drag marks after trying to drive it.

marlot

As others have said, it'll be the brake shoes slightly rusted into the drums.

Wam the engine up. Put it in first or reverse, give it some revs and let the clutch up quickly. It should let go with a bang.

Next time, if you're using the vehicle for a few days, park it in gear and with the handbrake off.

Aubrey_Thicket

Hi all

Just posting back with the resolution...

We weren't entirely comfortable taking action ourselves. My friend is in the AA so we called them out and the AA guy found the problem within seconds...

Under the MIDDLE of the van there is a pivot type mechanism for the handbrake cable. That was seized on!

He got under the van with a socket set. Took the device off. Took it to his van. Messed around with it, lubricated it and put it back on.

All is fine now.

Thanks for your comments everybody.