how can I unstick a locked up brake on my minivan?

I came out to my 96 Less than grand caravan, released the parking brake and the right rear drum did not release. I tried going down the street to unstick it. It is still stuck and now I have a flat tire. Any idea as to what caused this and how to "uncause" it?

I've gotta get this thing rolling at least so I can get it home to fix the problem.

Try using pliers or vice grips on the emergency brake cable and tap the cable back into the brake drum. Thats if it has drums on the rear. Might spray some pb blaster etc on it first. Sometimes if you apply the em brakes when wet they will freeze stuck in freezing weather. Prob. not your case though.

Have a look at the emergency brake cable end.

You may have to back off the adjuster to get home.

Thanks. I will try these and see what happens.

If backing off the adjuster works, I'm going to be angry with myself b/c a flat blade screw driver was the ONE tool I had in the van.

My money is on the prking brake apply lever. It has a pivot point where it attaches to the shoe and usually that is where they corrode and bind up.

If that is the case you should be able to take the shoe off, spray W/ penetrating oil and move it back and forth to free it up.

Could also be the cable. Only way to solve that one is to replace it.

We see this happen every once in a while on our stuff that sets awhile. Usually rocking the vehicle back and forth in forward and reverse while banging on the wheel with a decent sized hammer (like above) will break them loose.

Applying brakes in reverse ususlly works unless something left loose.

Ok. here is the update:

Went to the airport and tried all of your suggestions with the following results:

1) Back off the adjuster
-- saw no adjuster to back off with. There were holes but no adjuster. Plus I forgot my flashlight

2) vise grips on cable
-- cable moved but wheel still locked

3) remove drum and fix parking brake doohicky
-- beat on drum with a BFH. Drum did not move. A bunch of rusty, dusty debris came out from around the edges. Drum released and started turning freely. I really don't know why.

I put on the donut and drove it home. Waiting till payday to get a new tire.

Now. How do I get the drum off so I can fix the problem? I have a feeling the BFH beating is not a permanent fix.

Test drive it a little and see what happens. Sometimes the shoes simply rust to the drum and once you break them loose you are good to go......until the thing sets awhile and sticks again. If it must come apart now, the BFH may be your best friend to help persuade it off. If the drum is rusted to the center hub, then heating it up good may break the bond. Usually the shock of the BFH will get them off.

You will still need to back off adjuster to get the drum off. Also be sure to soak the brake cables from the drum to the spot where the cable comes out of the covering wrap with PB BLaster. It will soak through and get rid of the rust in the cable housing.