Dear Tom and Ray:

I just purchased a 1986 Dodge Ram Van. When I drive over 20 mph then apply the brakes, the rear brakes stick. If I back up, the sound is even worse. You can actually hear them binding. I put on new shoes and turned the drums, and the problem is still there. Any suggestions? David

Ray: My guess is that your wheel cylinders are sticking.

Tom: Try an experiment. Next time the brakes lock up, climb under the van and open both rear bleeders. If that unlocks the brakes, then my brother is wrong. That means you have a problem further up in the system, like in the proportioning valve or the master cylinder.

Ray: But my guess is that opening the bleeders won't do anything. And that means I'm probably right, and what you need are new wheel cylinders

Tom: By the way, David, my brother used to drive a Dodge just like this, but he kept running into problems with people following the instructions on the back of the vehicle.

Ray: Yeah. People would drive up and see the sign on the back that says "Ram Van," and then smash into me.

How can you tell if a used car is in good condition -- or even OK, for that matter? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "How to Buy a Great Used Car: Things That Detroit and Tokyo Don't Want You to Know." Send $3 and a stamped (55 cents), self-addressed, No. 10 envelope to Used Car, PO Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

© 1993 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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