Practically Classics Forum

I have a 2003 Freelander TD4. If I don't use it for more than a day the rear brakes seem to stick on.

When I try to drive off the brakes are resisting, then there is a rather alarming bang and they come free and everything is back to normal. This had been happening for quite a while now. I took the rear brake drums off this afternoon to have a look but everything looked normal.

Any ideas?

That's a bit new for us however the LRO forum is a very useful resource and one of them will undoubtedly know what's up with your landy.
http://forum.lro.com

I would suggest that the brakes are damp when parking up and, with these modern asbestos-free linings, they tend to "rust" to the drums (or discs). The easy solution is not to leave the handbrake on for long periods - though this is probably not the answer if the back brakes stick on a vehicle with a transmission parking brake!

My last three cars have all suffered the problem and, even though I don't leave the handbrake on when the car is parked up, the pads will still stick to the discs when they are wet (so I avoid washing the car...)

The same thing happens with clutches - the Land Rover clutch stuck a couple of winters ago, when it was parked up outside. It was fine this autumn, after being parked in the garage for over a year. The big tractor suffers similar problems when not used regularly - the clutch is stuck, but now it is under cover, it frees itself fairly quickly. The little tractor's clutch has nearly expired, so I suspect it's pretty old (asbestos) and the tractor can be left outside and the clutch doesn't stick!

I will have to go out soon and move the big tractor and Land Rover (both in the "tractor shed") to make sure the clutches are free. However, it is a little bit wet outside at the moment and I don't want to make a mess of the lawn! It's also "closed season" for the vehicles - house repairs and renovation take priority in the cold and wet weather!

Thanks tractorman. Just to clarify that the Mk1 Freelander does not have a transmission brake - the handbrake operates the rear drum brakes in a conventional manner.

Maybe I will resort to chocking the wheels if I know I'm not going to use the car the next day.

We have BMW 330d cars at work and all of those suffer the same brake problem, we have had our mechanics look at them but they say there isn't a problem.

When I wash the car, I usually take it out for a run to dry the brakes (certainly since I bought the Passat, which was washed weekly). I try to dry the brakes when I come home in wet conditions - lightly pressing the brake pedal while coming up our road. That's OK for me - it's only a couple of hundred yards on a housing estate in the country, not a main city road! However, the brakes had stuck a little when I got the car out to go shopping yesterday!

The problem is that there isn't a problem - at least, not mechanically: it's polished metal that gets wet and covered with flash rust!

Yes, asbestos was good for some things!

In my case it's got nothing to do with washing the car as I never wash it!

I have now got myself a couple of chocks and use them instead of the handbrake if I expect the car will not be used the next day.

Check the handbrake cables are not as stiff as pokers. I have had several cars where the handbrake would stick on and found the cables had gone stiff . Squirt oil into the end of the cable while someone operates the handbrake and give the outer a few pulls to get it supple. Worked most times for me. Can be worst in winter when any moisture in the cable freezing will make them stick on.

my galaxy had frozen brake cables, they didnt come off with the bang.. have you tried reversing? it works most of the time