I have a 99 5 door Rav4, had it about 10mths and have recently returned from a 800 round mile trip to Scotland last week. A few days ago, after the car had been stood a couple of days, when setting off in reverse the car tensed itself with the brake on but when releasing the brake the car didnt move. On pressing the accelertor the car moved but there was a loud bang from the back. Today the same thing happened but this time in D, the car tenses on the handbrake but on the release it doesnt move again touching the accelerator frees the car but again the loud bang from the back.

I realise it is difficult from a description alone to be able to diagnose a mechanical problem but I would appreciate any advise on what the problem is likely to be.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Steve

Hi Steve and welcome to TOC. I suspect that we are near neighbours! Problem sounds like the hand brake being semi siezed. We have a guy on here who knows more about brakes that anybody I've ever met. His name is Anchorman and he will no doubt be along when he gets back off shift. Well worth waiting for

Hi steve. Mine was doin exactly the same. I serviced the breaks - replaced back break shoes cleaned everything up + greased springs+clips with copper slip. Ive found it does this on a few diferent cars when theyve been stood with handbreak on. Your back break shoes are probably low so the pistons on slave cylinder are probably quiet far out, which is never a good thing. Give em a good service which shud sort + make your foot break less spongy as they are all linked. If u need to adjust your handbreak after servicing them, pull the rubber to one side at the base of your handbreak inbetween front seats +theres an adjuster screw. Let me no how u get on. Laura

in the good old days, bricks and blocks of timber were used to supplement the parking brake.

Our Transit vans are prone to the exact same so I tell the drivers to leave the vans in gear. Don't reverse to try and free off the brake as you'll damage something

I hate earlies!

If it has disc brakes on the rear, there is probably nothing wrong. The very wet weather tends to partially bond the pad to the disc and they clunk when they break away. You might improve matters by giving it a good run but it will probably sort itself out when the weather improves. If it is drum brakes then they probably need to come apart for a quick check. They are most prone to sticking when they are contaminated with either oil or brake fluid.

Bothy

Land Rovers still come with handbrake bricks in the tool kit - just next to the tow rope and the starting handle.

PS - breaks are for Kit Kats and brakes are for stopping!!! (just kidding)