. Hi, I'm new here, and I have a strange problem I've never previously encountered. I am trying to move a '72 Maverick that hasn't moved since '02. All the wheels are locked to the point that when the car is pulled, on pavement, they all skid - no rotation at all. . The car is in a basement garage that has been damp (on and off) in the past, so I assume the shoes are rusted to the drums. Is there anyway of breaking the rust without breaking the car. If I can move it out of it's immediate position, I can try to dis-adjust the brake adjusters. But now it is stuck close (6"+/-) between two other cars on the sides and the rear is a couple of inches from a wall. Using a come-a-long anchored to a forklift's upper side, the pull was sufficient to lift the front end and a kid that was around insisted on jumping up and down on the cable, all to no avail. There isn't room enough with the forklift (or anchors enough without it) to pull it straight out and then pick it up with a forklift from the side, 'cause I sure was tempted. . So what do I do? Jack up the car in place, crawl thru the muck of damp cat poo with a flashlight and hunt for the rubber plugs on the backing plates, and expect the adjusters to be just as stuck as .... well, you can guess how likely I'll end up with just breaking the teeth off (if they're anything like most adjusters I've seen in the past (not Maverick)). . Help? . Bob
"Grab the bull by the horns and let the chips fall where they may." (translated: Pull it out. You can get brake replacement parts at an auto parts store.)
Do you have a floor jack. If so, jack up the rear so the rear wheels don't touch the ground and pull with the fork lift. Once you get it out to where you can get the wheels off, do that, back the adjustors off, hit the drums with a BFH to break the shoes loose. May have to use a pry bar to get the drum to turn once you get the shoes broken loose. Spray some PB Blaster in there to help break the rust loose. That's about all I can think of so far. Hope it helps.
Get a jack and slide four wheel dollies under the wheels and push the car out. The wheels on our newest Maverick were also frozen and that's how we got it into our garage.
bfh i had the same problem when i first get my 69.5,,it had sit under a tree for 10 years,,,i took the wheel off,used a bfh to get the drum off,,took the shoes off, put the drum back on,put the wheel back on,and then pulled it onto the rollback
is it a flat pull out of the garage. if so, i'm with jean. i have my sprint on 4 dollies and just move it around where ever i need to.
Thanks so far... Thanks so far... but: {Scrapper60} -- The floor is asphalt, thin and distressed (rippled, pitted, etc.) so a floor jack (which I've tried) just locks into one of the depressions and stops. . I will have to search this site for the meaning of "BFH" (which I assume to some form of 'rust buster'. {Jean Doll} -- Because of space limitations on the sides, would have to jack up the front, place jack stands, slide the floor jack under the rear end from the front and pump while under the car... not my idea of a long life prospect (but doable). How well the dollies would roll is questionable (ever seen an old asphalt floor (inside) used to store various footed item over long periods - the floor conforms to the shape pressing down into it). . I'll work something out for moving it, so - next question - if the brakes are in that sad of a shape - what else am I likely to find has seized or ceased to function. The only prep for storage seems to have been the removal of the battery. Will the engine turn or is it likely to also suffer internally from corrosion, etc... etc... . Bob
Throw water on asphalt to help slick it down. Try putting plywood down (nail in front to prevent sliding) under rear tires an towing, sliding car out that way. Be prepared for major rust bucket after you get out, and a mouse home. Might get lucky, YOU GOTTA IT OUT, go from there! Good Luck
I see your problem using a floorjack with the lack of space around the car being so limited. Is there any reason why the cars parked along side the Maverick can not moved? It certainly would make moving the Maverick whole lot easier. If all else fails, drag the car out. It won't hurt the brakes. Like I mentioned before, our current Maverick had the same problem. The wheels were froze fast and we had to drag the car across a paved driveway and then winched onto a flatbed trailer. No harm was done to the brakes or the wheels. In fact, the front brakes broke free while the car was being dragged. The rears did not. That's where the dollies came in handy.
Take some cat litter or oil dry and lead a trail out the door in front of all 4 tires. It will slide easier when you pull it. It's like adding a million little marbles. Just make sure whatever you do to be careful that the car doesn't jump sideways and get another car. I've used this trick setting caster/camber on stock cars before, without having turn plates, to get the tires to steer easier on the floor.
Got any snow boards?... Old plastic sleds ? seriously they will allow the tires to slide .. jack it up enough to get something very hard and thick ( hard plastic) it will allow the wheels to slide. No wheels to get stuck in asphalt imperfections. Same principle as those things you put under furniture legs to allow furniture to slide around without scratching floors.
Four wheel drive pickup with low range.... hook to it and drag it out. Works best with a "recovery strap" instead of a chain. The strap will stretch a certain amount then recoil back, pulling the car with it. Most 4X4 guys will know what I'm talking about....
Hook onto the car and drag it out... Just make sure someone is looking out making sure it dosen't slide sideways into anything. As far as the engine, I'd say it's pretty much a 50/50 chance of it being locked up or not. You won't know for sure until you physically try to crank it over.
