Vauxhall Astra brakes sticking

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Mon 26 Sep 2005 14:38
Vauxhall Astra brakes sticking - jharp
I've a 1990 Astra has a rear brake that locks. Its belongs to a relative who had new wheel cyclinders fitted followed by new retaining springs but the handbrake kept sticking. The car was left in a garage for 3 months and initially ran ok then the handbrake started sticking almost randomly. More worrying the back wheel has twice locked up while moving. It immedately free's itself due to momentum and the car carries on as normal. I've removed the drum and all looks ok and have loostened the handbrake cable a bit but when I started the car the brake had seized again.
Any ideas - I'm unwilling to pay much for a repair as the car is so old.
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Mon 26 Sep 2005 19:24
Vauxhall Astra brakes sticking - Civic8
>>More worrying the back wheel has twice locked up while moving.

Possible the wheel cylinders still have small amount of air in,try bleeding them and see what happens from there
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Steve
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Mon 26 Sep 2005 21:55
Vauxhall Astra brakes sticking - none
You won't be able to stop the handbrake sticking on now and then, it's a Vauxhall feature. What you can stop though is the brake grabbing whilst in motion.
Ensure that the self adjusters haven't been adjusted manually to take up what might be judged as excess play. Ensure that the handbrake cable isn't overtightened to take up travel at the handbrake lever. Suspension travel effectively shortens the handbrake cable, leading to an unwanted application, and the leading shoe might well 'grab', locking the wheel. Weak return shoe springs often contribute to the problem.
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Mon 26 Sep 2005 22:32
Vauxhall Astra brakes sticking - Civic8
only question then is,how easy was it to remove drum/s.if self adjusters hand adjusted and overtightened, the drum may be hard/impossible to remove
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Steve
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Tue 27 Sep 2005 00:26
Vauxhall Astra brakes sticking - Number_Cruncher
We've considered this sort of problem before;

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=26197

On a 1990 Astra, I'm sure there will be enough of a wear lip to make brake drum removal difficult however the brakes have been adjusted.

However, on a 1990 Astra, I would double check to make sure that the hollow rivets (as were fitted to OE brake shoes) are clear of dust. If the void above the rivet head clogs up, this can lead to handbrake sticking.

Spragging of the brakes on the move does suggest a more serious problem. Perhaps the drums are very badly worn?

Number_Cruncher
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