Brakes Locked Up

[Pete379]

Hi, I have a pretty major problem with my '85 Trans Am and could use some help. A few months ago I lost my brakes but was pretty close to home to nurse it back. I lost all brake fluid and didn't even notice until I saw it pouring out underneath by the left rear wheel. Now the problem is the car wont move at all as I guess when all the brake fluid leaks out the brakes lock up. Question is basically how can I get it towed? (It has an automatic) Would they have to drag it up somehow on a flatbed and how would they be able to unload it as the wheels wont roll at all? Is there anyway I could free the brakes myself? I'm not to mechanically inclined though. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[John81]

The brakes won't lock up if you are low/out of brake fluid. I would guess that one or more of your brakes are seized, possibly caused by brake fluid getting onto the rotors/drums and rusting them up.

Brake fluid is corrosive and letting it sit on bare metal will cause it to rust up pretty quick, but you should be able to force the wheels to move and break the rust free but it might take a bit of force.

[Pete379]

Hi John thanks for the reply. Yeah they are definitely seized up, except the weird thing is it happened almost as soon as I pulled in the driveway with it. Was lucky to get it home. The car will move just a little bit but it has to be almost floored to do it. That cant be good for the engine. One other thing is I cant get the key out of the ignition since it happened,which actually happened once before (Right before I was supposed to have emissions testing done. Just cant figure out what to do.

[92RS_Ttop]

The car can be dragged up onto a rollback-style tow truck but it won't be easy or very good for the tires. It's done all the time with car repo's. If the brakes are seized, the only thing to do is get the car in the air and rebuild them. Like JOhn said, they are probably rusted pretty good and/or your brake shoes have seized to the drums. If the fluid leaked out of the back only then your front brakes are probably ok. Easiest way to check is lift the front up and try spinning the wheels. You should be able to spin them pretty easily by hand. Be careful testing the brakes by sitting in the car and gunning the engine, if they break free you're gonna take off.

As for the key, check the simple thing first - make sure the shifter is in Park. If you still can't remove it, shift out of Park and back in and then give the shifter an extra push towards the front of the car. If your shifter's cable is even slightly out of adjustment it can cause the key to get "stuck" in the ignition. I've had that happen on several cars.

[Pete379]

Thanks for the great post 92RS. Heh yeah I figured it would probably have to be dragged,thats going to be painful to watch but I had these tires for a while now and will replace them eventually, plus I'm sure there flat spotted now for sitting so long in one place. I will try what you said and will jack the front end up and see if I can move them by hand. Cant believe I didn't think of that I will also try what you said about the key Thanks for the help guys!