I was driving down the road today going about 35-40mph and all of a sudden my rear passenger brake locked on and i was dragging the wheel. It locked then let loose, then locked again and let go and i pulled over and then i couldnt move forward at all, but i was able to back up into a parking lot. Once there i could move a few feet then boom, the tire would be dragging again, but i could back up. I cant remember if my foot was on brake or not but i dont think it was. also if it was dragging i could hardly pull up the ebrake but if i rolled back the ebrake was normal. After trying to figure it out for 2 hours i call my insurance and had it towed home. So does that sound like a seized caliper or e brake?
going to do shocks tomorrow and also what ever is the wrong with brakes. I have searched and read many post about both topics but couldnt find one similar to what happened to me.

Thanks

Joe

 

its really hard to tell without being able to see it. youre just gonna have to pop the wheel off and look. your caliper piston should rotate by using needle nose pliers.

 

So I took the wheel off and found that the support on the axle going forward is snapped off at the axle. I can turn the wheel just fine with it in the air so not sure if the caliper is seized. But if it is or the e brake is then would that sudden force at 40mph be bought to snap that arm off the axle? I don't know wagging to do now. I can't see the axle arm just snapping off going down the road.

 

i told you how to check the caliper piston.

 

this happen on my 88. My caliper piston was frozen open. Dragging like no other. I replaced the everything break and bearing in that area. bearings only because they needed it bad. but my vote on this is just replace the caliper, or rebuild if you know how.

 

Here is an update, so the axle is basically snapped off at the support arm. It wasnt the caliper, with the axle broke, driving forward made it get pulled back causing the E brake cable to get pulled and lock up the wheel. Going backwards the axle went back into place and allowed me to drive.

So i went to the local pick a part that had 2 96 maximas so I looked at the 2 but they had about as much rust as mine did. So it took an hour and a half to get one out. Then when i was coming back with the wheel barrow to get it i passed a 96 I30 that was marked as a J30, I took a look at the axle and it was spotless compared to the ones on the maximas, having already spent that much time on the other one i debated getting this one instead. I decided to get the better one and started pulling it off, since i had just done one I knew the tricks this time and this one only took 30 minutes to get it off.

Got home and pulled the one off mine but have to get a spring compressor since i am doing the shocks too. So i got the tool and will finish it up tomorrow.