In reverse car felt like it was going up hill...

[jimdigs]

I backed out onto the road to take off and as I did it felt like I was starting to go up a hill on the passanger side of the rear of the car. Only thing I can think of is that the wheel bearing locked up for a minute?? What you guys think? Or maybe the breaks locked up on one side or something? I jacked up the rear and both rear wheels are hard to turn. Shouldn't they spin pretty free once jacked up? Oh, its a 88 festiva.

[WmWatt]

Maybe check the hand brake cable and pivot pin, called the clevis pin. They can get dirty or rusty and stick.
The brake cable could get caught on something?
The hand brake lever might not be releasing?
Also when backing up the rear brakes "self adjust". I think that means they can be stiff at first but should free up.
Yes, when the rear wheel is jacked up the wheel should turn pretty freely. Be sure the hand brake is off.
I think brearings are more likely to wear and become loose, not stiff. Usual test is pushing and pulling the top of the wheel to see if there is any play. Do that with the hand brake released.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I've experienced the handbrake actuator/self-adjustor assemblies seize up on me more times than I can remember. You need to take them out of the car, and work them in a bench vise from stop to stop while liberally applying WD-40/whatever, followed by lithium grease or equivalent..

I also once had a nearly-worn-out rear shoe lining start to peel away from the shoe and seize up just that one wheel.

[jimdigs]

Thanks for the replies guys. I will check out the handbrake adjuster. Appreciate the help.

[WmWatt]

Alaska's reply reminded me I had to replace a brake shoe hold down spring this year. It holds the brake shoe against the backing plate. This spring had rusted through and the brake shoe was rubbing on the inner face of the drum. Noisy but not restrictive as I recall. Set of replacement springs was inexpensive. Installation was an easy DIY job.

[firebush357]

What these guys replied are where I would start. Those little metal clevis pins like to rust together. I have had to take them off and torch them before to get them to free up. If you have the time to take them out and let them soak in something like PB blaster or something else that'll eat the rust it may help and then spray a liberal amount of WD40 on them before reinstallation.

[WmWatt]

For what it's worth I put the clevis pin levers in a vise and tapped with a hammer to break the rust along with applying solvent.