Rear wheel not spinning freely

[E. Paulin]

Hi,
I have a 2003 Honda Civic, with rear drum brakes. I was changing the tires earlier today and noticed a big difference between how much each tire would spin. The left rear would spin freely (and freewheel for a while) and the right rear took some force to spin. If I let go, it would stop immediately.

Could this be a bearing or drum brake issue? I’m not really sure what to think, as I’ve never noticed anything while driving.

Thanks

Topic

[David]

Check brake pads as one side could have worn more than the other or if are good adjust the brake pads on the stiff side to free it up abit.

[Andrew Phillips]

When spun as hard as possible, the rear wheel should not spin more than one complete revolution if the brakes are adjusted properly. On the wheel that spins freely check the self-adjuster as it may be frozen in place and not allowing the brake to be adjusted on its own. It is too loose. The other side sounds like it might be too tight. There should be just a slight amount, hardly noticeable, drag on the drum from where the leading edge of the shoe contacts the drum. Neither side should free-spin.

[Lorrin Barth]

Pull the brake drum off and remount the wheel to see if it is the same. If yes then bearing. Don’t drive or even step on the brakes with the brake drum off.

[Author]

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