'75 won't move- back wheels seem stuck
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Spencer, IN
'75 won't move- back wheels seem stuck
Greetings,
My father bought me a 1975 stingray in 2014 as a goal to graduate high school. I have no idea what I am doing with it- but I want to learn.
My father passed away in 2018 before he could really teach me much about the vette- and we stupidly let it sit for a few years.
I went to test the parking break a few months ago to see if it was set- and it fell back down. When I went to push the vette in neutral it wouldn't move.
I jacked it up and put it in neutral to see if I could spin the back wheels- but they didn't really want to move. I can't remember if the left one moved or not- but I think it did.
My brother in law said he thinks it could be the calipers while his ex mechanic dad thinks it could be something else- so I thought to come here to see what you all thought?
TL;DR: 1975 stingray, parking break won't stay up, back wheels won't move
My father bought me a 1975 stingray in 2014 as a goal to graduate high school. I have no idea what I am doing with it- but I want to learn.
My father passed away in 2018 before he could really teach me much about the vette- and we stupidly let it sit for a few years.
I went to test the parking break a few months ago to see if it was set- and it fell back down. When I went to push the vette in neutral it wouldn't move.
I jacked it up and put it in neutral to see if I could spin the back wheels- but they didn't really want to move. I can't remember if the left one moved or not- but I think it did.
My brother in law said he thinks it could be the calipers while his ex mechanic dad thinks it could be something else- so I thought to come here to see what you all thought?
TL;DR: 1975 stingray, parking break won't stay up, back wheels won't move
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 264
Likes: 200
From: Sicklerville NJ
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If the park brake handle falls down, it sounds like the park brake shoes are stuck , park brake have shoes inside the brake rotor inner drum . You can try to free them up by having car on ground and rock car by hand first if that doesn`t work try rocking car by driving slow
Racer
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 264
Likes: 200
From: Sicklerville NJ
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
What I forgot to tell you is to look under car to see if brake cables are very loose or tight . If they are loose and hanging down that is another sign that the shoes could be stuck inside the rotor.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
You don't mention whether the car is automatic or stick. It is possible for a maladjusted Muncie to lock up and engage both reverse and first (or some such). It's happened to me. Whereupon it won't move.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,989
From: Connecticut, USA
Glad you have it, sorry on your loss. I gave my son a 75 coupe in need of overhaul the night he graduated from HS. We worked on it together and he learned a lot in the process. So stick with it, it means more to you then monetary value.
If the car sat a long time it will need some work. The parking brake system consists of 2 cables, parking shoes and steel hardware. You might have a broken or stretched cable, you might have moved the shoes and they seized up, there may be an issue in the diff locking up the rear wheels.
I would jack up and support the rear of the car. Pull the wheels and give it all a look. In neutral you should be able to move the rotors by hand or a bar in the web of the rotors. If not see if both wheels are locked or one, even though it has a stock posi most likely the break away torque is 40 ft/lb. If you still can't see it you can isolate the wheels by disconnecting the 1/2 shafts and see if the wheel or diff are locking up. If the wheel then it's going to be parking brake or caliper hoses, most likely parking brake. Wheel bearings would be loose if bad.
Don't give up. Do what you can and ask for help. If you're near CT I would help you out but you can always contact me.
If the car sat a long time it will need some work. The parking brake system consists of 2 cables, parking shoes and steel hardware. You might have a broken or stretched cable, you might have moved the shoes and they seized up, there may be an issue in the diff locking up the rear wheels.
I would jack up and support the rear of the car. Pull the wheels and give it all a look. In neutral you should be able to move the rotors by hand or a bar in the web of the rotors. If not see if both wheels are locked or one, even though it has a stock posi most likely the break away torque is 40 ft/lb. If you still can't see it you can isolate the wheels by disconnecting the 1/2 shafts and see if the wheel or diff are locking up. If the wheel then it's going to be parking brake or caliper hoses, most likely parking brake. Wheel bearings would be loose if bad.
Don't give up. Do what you can and ask for help. If you're near CT I would help you out but you can always contact me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
sounds like it was stored with the P brake on,
good chance they rusted.
then a chance semi metalic pads and rusty discs are causing issues,
going to need some pushing the car back and forth.
I would pull it with a car and strap, gently
good chance they rusted.
then a chance semi metalic pads and rusty discs are causing issues,
going to need some pushing the car back and forth.
I would pull it with a car and strap, gently
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Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Spencer, IN
Thank you, I will definitely check on this Wednesday. We had a house fire in April and we are a town over- so we go about once a week over. Got a battery, fogging oil, and regular auto oil to do an oil change and try to get the thing running.
I'll letcha know how it goes!
Live in IN- so a bit away haha
I'll letcha know how it goes!
Live in IN- so a bit away haha
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 201
From: Willoughby Ohio
Sorry for your loss. Posting your location can be very helpful as there are plenty on here willing to help. Look up my profile and pm if you are curious. You will understand when you see it.
Old Fart Pilot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 991
From: Spokane, WA
Had something similar happen when I tried to remove my '71 from a shed it sat in for over 20 years. It's a 4-speed but the rear wheels wouldn't move when we tried to push it back in neutral. The shed was too narrow to remove the wheels so we had to jack up the rear end under the diff with a rolling floor jack and attach a chain to said jack and pull the car out of the shed just far enough to be able to have access to the rear wheels. The left rear MAIN brake pads were rusted to the disc and simply removing the retaining pin and driving the pads out of the caliper allowed the wheel to move freely again.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Most likely stuck parking brake shoes. They should break free with some aggressive back and forth rocking of the car (manually). You need 2 or 3 'buds' to assist you with this. After the shoes break loose, you can then have 2 or 3 Buds. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
It doesn't take long for the parking brake shoes to rust-shut. Our 82 project was only "airborne" on jack stands for 2 yrs. We thought something broke in the rear diff -- turned out to just be the PB shoes. You may have to remove the rear rotors to set them free -- we had to
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Also take into account these cars have independent rear suspension driven by two small half shafts with universal joints. When jacked up the trailing arms sag down and if not supported the u-joints can bind up to keep the wheels from spinning while on jack stands.