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Frozen Rear Wheel

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Old Dec 24, 2010 | 01:12 PM
  #1  
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Default Frozen Rear Wheel

Inherited a 1969 Convertible a few weeks ago. After digging it out of the dirt, I noticed the pass side rear wheel is locked up. Is this a caliper issue or a parking brake issue. Any advice on getting it free would be great so I can get this baby on a trailer and get it home!
Great forum by the way!
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Old Dec 24, 2010 | 01:39 PM
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Could be either one. Many a Corvette had to be dragged on a trailer.

You could try and get the caliper off or take the pin out of the top of the brake pad and try and pry the pads out. This will free up the brakes but if it is a wheel bearing that is much more involved. Better just dragging it on the trailer.
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Old Dec 24, 2010 | 02:50 PM
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Take the wheel off and try to take the caliper off... or atleast the brake pads.

you could jack it up and put a wheel dolly under and roll it along on plywood till it hits the trailer if your concerned about dragging it. It shouldn't really hurt anything to drag it though... given that it was buried and being 41 years old... everything will need going through any way.

Congratz on the car and best of luck on the restoration! This forum can be your best friend, it has helped me many of times with questions and just reading old threads!

Post pics as you go, we all love to watch
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 05:11 AM
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If only one wheel, then probably a frozen caliper pin. To get it on the trailer, try removing the wheel, pull and wire hang wire the frozen rotor/caliper aside, put the wheel back on and take her home. You can probably salvage the caliper with the help of some oxy/acetylene torch heat, a little clean up, and CRC syn lube. Dont be intimidated by the torch set up, as probably pick up a used small aircrcaft set for a couple hundred buck's. Chump change when restoring an old car.
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 07:20 AM
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Default 69 vert

first thing to get your self is the chassis manual and the assembly manual
good luck with your new car will save a lot of time
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Old Dec 25, 2010 | 09:10 AM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by Gordonm
Could be either one. Many a Corvette had to be dragged on a trailer.

You could try and get the caliper off or take the pin out of the top of the brake pad and try and pry the pads out. This will free up the brakes but if it is a wheel bearing that is much more involved. Better just dragging it on the trailer.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 12:26 PM
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Congrats on the new project.

Let us know how you made out.
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Old Dec 27, 2010 | 01:54 PM
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Can you slip a putty knife or old screwdriver in between the pads and the rotor and push the caliper pistons back in? If you can't budge them then the caliper is stuck inside. You might be able to tap on something inserted between the pads and rotor and force the caliper pistons in enough to get the wheel to turn. If none of this works it is a stuck parking brake and I would vote for dragging it onto a trailer to fix back at the shop so you don't accidentally destroy parts out there where the car is currently sitting
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