Hi all,

I've had this problem since I bought my 2010 1.6 TDCI Focus a couple of years ago; If I park up with the handbrake on in wet weather, the next day the rear brakes will be stuck on. They unstick after a bit of accelerator. This is only when it's wet - they've been fine through the summer.

I replaced the shoes in June with some Bosch ones in the hope it would fix it for this winter, but after a downpour last night, got in the car this morning to find the rear brakes sticking again.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Kinda getting worried I'll end up breaking something by forcing them to unstick like that.

Possibly caused by weak return springs, or the auto adjusters are sticking.

For what little they cost I would replace the return springs in the Drums on both sides, and at the same time wind back the auto adjusters and put a very small amout of copper slip on them.

Temporary fix which I did before getting brakes 'seen to', was on a clear road, apply your handbrake briefly at about 15/20 MPH. This will rub any residue off the inside of the drums and should last a few weeks.

Thanks - for the sake of a tenner, I might as well give the new springs a go

Try cleaning up the inside of the drums with some sand/emery paper (if you haven't already done so).

21 minutes ago, Phil3747 said:

Try cleaning up the inside of the drums with some sand/emery paper (if you haven't already done so).

Great idea, you might even try pulling on the handbrake whilst driving at... oh, wait a minute 🤣

You're right about the potential to break things.  I snapped a coil spring releasing the brakes on a Vectra...which then speared the tyre.   The spring must have already been cracked so if it hadn't snapped on the drive, could have snapped on a bump or pothole at 60/70mph instead. 😮

A bit of stick is normal for drums after dampness, just cleaning them up occasionally as Stephen suggests should keep it under control.  

That is a design fault that has affected the Mk2.5 and the Volvo V50 (same car) from day 1 and it is no fun if it has snowed overnight or you have been parked on loose gravel. I'm a great fan of Drum Brakes but the ones on my Mk2.5 were the worst ones that I have had on any car. 

All the ideas already posted above are relevant and should give temporary relief but there is no permanent cure unfortunately.  

When mines was doing that I found it to be the cylinder was leaking and after replacing it it didn't happen anymore.

I don't think it's leaky cylinders as I'm not loosing any fluid, but will double-check whilst I'm in there replacing the springs 👍

1 hour ago, nnxen said:

I don't think it's leaky cylinders as I'm not loosing any fluid, but will double-check whilst I'm in there replacing the springs 👍

Check the rubber caps for holes it could be very slowly leaking.

Did you say "Shoes" - I had this problem with cars in the past that had rear drums. Annual dusting-out fixed it - the dust gets damp and acts sort of like glue. With newly-religned brakes you might get more dust than usual. Worth a look?