Caliper's locking up, Just need to bleed? Options

[senick]

So as the title goes, I had my car on a lift, engine on and in neutral, and the front passenger wheel was encountering a decent amount of resistance when spinning. I can only guess it's the caliper. Interestingly, the passenger rear is experiencing the same problem, only its the shoes against the drum. A guy I worked with suggested it's a bad caliper, which is also causing uneven pressure distribution in the back locking it up as well. I'm just thinking if the caliper itself is bad, or I just need to bleed the brakes and see if there's stuff in there. What do you guys think? And is the procedure for bleeding pretty easy with these cars? The old horse is pretty weather worn, so I'm worried I might snap something off the release valve when I try and bleed it.

[senick]

Well, the wheel won't spin for 5 seconds with just a hand spin. I'd say it goes maybe 2 or 3 seconds. The shoes in the back are also wearing prematurely; I took the drum off and there was a considerable amount of brake dust. Which, by the way, they don't use asbestos anymore do they?

[xrav22]

Well, the wheel won't spin for 5 seconds with just a hand spin. I'd say it goes maybe 2 or 3 seconds. The shoes in the back are also wearing prematurely; I took the drum off and there was a considerable amount of brake dust. Which, by the way, they don't use asbestos anymore do they?

Yes they still do, spray with an old spray bottle of water to mist the area before working that helps alot. Anyway with drums clean and lube all moving parts especially e brake cable connections after rusting those things can grab. On the front caliper it seems strange to have drag unless it to was rusty and or dirty preventing it from easing back after you take your foot off the brake. Take off the pads and use a c clamp and set it back in a little and clean the caliper then carefully drive and let your caliper readjust at LOW speed. Mabey it will solve.