cameron_zank

I recently acquired a barn car from my uncle. It's a 1968 98. The rear axle wont budge. I haven't taken anything apart yet, but the shifter indicates that the car is in neutral and the trans seems to be shifting as well. I will note that my uncle has no idea where the ignition key is. But seeing that the ignition is on the dash, I assume that there is no "lockout" being that I don't have the key but the car is still seeming to shift gears. So, my question is, is the rear end locked up? Has anyone ever had this happen? Everything on the car is completely stock.

Dangerbird

The rear brake drums are stuck to the brake pads. take off the rear wheels and hit them with a hammer or try to drag the car to get them to break free.

m371961

Or the emergency brake cable is froze in the brake on position.

cameron_zank

Thank you! I will get back out there and try to break them free. Is there a reason why the rear drums did that and not the front drums?Emergency brake?

Dangerbird

Well if they are they are drums all around they all could be stuck, its just from rust and sitting too long, i just broke free a set last week. They can be a bear!

delmontcrusier

Gotta love those rear drums when they stick. I ran into that many times and know I have at least one car I will have to deal with that when I get to working on it. I figured you had a clunking or something like that. My 67 had worn parts replaced in the rear diff from noise and clunking before I bought it and got the old parts in a bag. Hope that is all it is keep us updated.

55 2nd series

Don't know your location, but how about a 1968 98 convertible to go alongside your new car? I'm getting ready to list it for sale here and possibly over at evil-bay. It is complete with original motor and drive train.
At this point, it's restorable but will need some TLC. Some people say that stands for Time & Lotsa Cash, but there were only 3,942 '68 98 convertibles made out of 662,894 total production Oldsmobiles made that year. I was also told that the '68 98s were the lowest production post-war Olds convertible made.

Just thought I'd throw it out there to you before I posted it to the masses.

MDchanic

Another possibility is that the rear brake hose is swollen inside, allowing brake fluid pressure to go into the wheels, but not come back out.

If so, and if backing off the adjusters all the way and banging and using penetrating oil doesn't work, the solution is to cut the hose, releasing the pressure.

- Eric