[AzMike]

I am in the final stages of finishing the rebuild of my 63 Lemans Convertible.

I have reached a very frustrating issue that I can not get my head around. Last year the car had the engine pulled for a rebuild, I had the transmission completely rebuilt and then the car got a complete body work and paint job. The engine was reinstalled and a new interior was installed.

A couple months ago my interior guy drove the car to a place to have a new top installed. While in the parking lot there, the car seemed to get locked up while in drive. It would go in reverse but if you put it in drive the car would want to move forward but it waould only squat and stall out the engine. I figured it was a transmission issue or a differential issue. This never happened in the few hundred miles I put on the car before I blew it up for restoration.

The car spent the next 6 weeks at the transmission shop. They assured me the transmission was fine and the binding was because the axle bearings were shot and causing the diff u-joints to bind.

After sourcing new axle bearings and rebuilding them myself the car was put back together.

On the way back to my place I noticed my brakes were very poor so yesterday I drove the car to a shop to get them inspected and fixed. The car locked up again in their parking lot (less than 10 miles since getting out of the transmission shop)

This repair shop (Brake Masters) says they think the problem for the locking up issue is a loose or warn linkage to the transmission.

The car will go into gear. I can feel the car want to more. But it only squats down like the parking brake is applied. Up in the air everything moves fine but on the ground it locks up.

I got one place telling me its' brakes, another telling me its transmission.

Does this ring any bells for you guys? Has this happened to anyone else? Please tell me where to start on this.

[tom s]

I had a similar issue,was the brakes.Bad cylinders.Was a stick shift but did the squat deal.Tom

[higgenslake]

I sent you a PM.

[Augie Valencia]

AzMike, It's a long shot but..... when I had the tranny rebuilt on my 63 Tempest, I drove it around the neighborhood at times, less than a mile. About 6 months after rebuild it locked up on me. I could engage gears but the car would not move, I thought it was a break issue. Turned out the tranny shop neglected to let me know that the crankcase needed fluid installed by me (gear oil?) So the bearing locked (seized) up in the crankcase. I was able to find the right bearing, installed it, filled the crankcase with fluid and ran fine after that. Like I said, it's a long shot but may have something to do with yours.






"Cause they stand on a wall and they say, "Nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on MY watch!".

[c5farmer]

I overhauled my auto transaxle and had it lock up after driving about a mile. The trans was good, it was the differential that locked up. I had forgotten to add gear lube to the gear case.

[Augie Valencia]

That is what I meant to say that happened to mine. The bearing was gone in the differential and it seized, so I replaced it and filled up with fluid. Runs fine after that.

[AzMike]

My problem is that it is intermittent. It will come and go. It will lock up then work itself free.

I rebuilt the brakes about 4 times and it went away. I thought I finally fixed it but then it just did it again last Thursday. I'm about at the end of my rope.

[CONCRETEHART]

Please make sure trans linkage is installed and adjusted correctly and shift unit is not going into Park position. also have a few top switch units out in Oregon unsure of condition

[AzMike]

Originally Posted by CONCRETEHART

Please make sure trans linkage is installed and adjusted correctly and shift unit is not going into Park position. also have a few top switch units out in Oregon unsure of condition

It's definitely in the brakes. It is only locking up on the driver side and when I tap the brake drum off everything spins easy again.

[CONCRETEHART]

once had brakes installed and (technician) installed both trailing shoes on left side and both leading shoes on right side. they have different friction material lengths

[AzMike]

Here are pics I just took.

[CONCRETEHART]

Both shoes appear to have the same amount of material Length wise but one should be about 2 inches shorter will try to get photo for comparison and this will apply to both front and rear both sides

[AzMike]

I am pulling the passenger side apart right now.

This issue first started after the transmission shop rebuilt my rear end. I am beginning to think they mix matched my brake shoes when they put it all back together. I hope that is the case, but damn all this grief over such a small detail is very frustrating.

[Bill Hanlon]

Mike:
I don't think it would cause the brakes to lock, but it appears in your 2nd picture that the "top" brake shoe lining is cracked at the rivets in 3 places.

[mechanickeith]

Mike,, Pull off all the automatic adjuster linkage parts, reassemble & adjust manually & see if that cures it.

[CONCRETEHART]

may help

[CONCRETEHART]

it appears the spring at adjustment screw is also incorrectly installed