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Fri May 25, 2018 11:07 am

If I lift the rear of my bus and turn the wheels by hand, they don’t seem to turn freely at all. I know this is very unscientific, but I can spin a wheel with my hands as fast as I can, and when I let go, the wheel will do one turn and stop. I removed the drum to rule out the brakes dragging, and same thing. Is there any kind of benchmark for how freely a wheel should turn? Yes, the gearbox is in neutral, and no, the parking brake is not on. Thanks in advance.

Fri May 25, 2018 11:22 am

This is normal. Don't overthink things. :)

Fri May 25, 2018 2:29 pm

You are turning a differential - if you put the other wheel up it will turn backwards. The proof is left to the student

Fri May 25, 2018 3:33 pm

one axle & two CV joints are pretty heavy too.

Fri May 25, 2018 4:05 pm

Tram wrote: Don't overthink things.

but where is the drama in that? :?

Fri May 25, 2018 4:21 pm

You are turning most everything in the transaxle when you do this, so yes there is a lot of drag. Unless you have been on the highway recently the oil is going to be cold and viscous so it takes a fair amount of energy to stir it around.

Fri May 25, 2018 5:15 pm

hazetguy wrote: Tram wrote: Don't overthink things.

but where is the drama in that? :?

LMAO - thanks Jon I needed that. :)

Sat May 26, 2018 9:39 am

OK, here’s a follow up question. After going for a drive, I noticed that one drum is noticeably hotter than the other. Like, one is warm and the other will burn you. I adjusted the brake shoes as per the manual on both sides. Both wheels feel about the same when I turn them by hand. Why is one hotter? :?

Sat May 26, 2018 10:17 am

because the shoe on that side is dragging. You need to find the cause. Make sure the e-brake is fully releasing on that side. One caveat. If you made lots a heavy braking, pulled in, checked them, and only one was hot then it means the other one isn't working. That said, a bad wheel bearing could cause that too but more likely it is a brake shoe. When you adjust them, step on the brakes before starting and before your final check. They can get off center so you think they are adjusted but they are not. A broken shoe return spring can cause that too.