Thread: RRC 1977 after hard braking impossible to drive foreward

Hi mate if it’s gearbox/center diff I can’t see how braking hard causes this. To me it sounds like your brakes are still locked on. First suspect would be sticking pistons in calipers but you say you’ve done these. Maybe the master cylinder is sticking when depressed hard - I mean it’s a barn find and hasn’t moved in 25 years - you’d have to think there’d be rust in there

Had a front diff collapse on me in a Classic. I kept having to reverse to free it when it jammed moving forward especially on overrun.
Have you changed the oil in the diffs & transfer case?

Have you replaced the flexible hoses??? It sounds a bit like they have collapsed internally and not allowing the calioers to release?

Did you adjust the hand brake at the same time.
Very common for an over adjusted handbrake to start dragging when hot.
Regards Philip A

The OP says in his post: "Also I noticed that there is quite a lot of play in the front driving axle (approx 50°)"
The should be some backlash but 50°?

Heloo,
thank you all for thinking with me!
When i had the car jacked up and after braking hard i immediately tested if each of the wheels turned free and all 4 seemed to do so...
Flexibles where changed but when bleeding the 3 nipples of the front callipers not all 3 were bleeding equally... anyway the car seems to brake good end straight
Handbrake was not adjusted...
Play in the front axle: since this one is hold by 6 scews and the play is almost equal to the distance of the screws so this means this is approx 60 degrees...
@Milton477 can you explain what you suggest? I did change the oil in the transfer case (no signs of metal flaking). The oil in the gearbox wasn't changed yet because i couldn't release the draining plug. Will do this later but it feels like all gears pass well
more thoughts or a way to eliminate weather it's a brake issue or a transfer issue?

It was 20 years ago so not sure but I think that the front diff pinion bearings collapsed causing the crown wheel & pinion to lock together. Therefore my suggestion to change the diff oil & see if there are any metal bits in the oil.

Hi Xanax,
I had a similar brake problem with a different make old car. It turned out to be a blocked port in the master cylinder that wouldn’t allow the fluid to return to the reservoir after the pedal was released, hence holding the brakes on.
Hope you find the problem quickly end enjoy your Rangie.