Bongo Fury

Last weekend we were away in the Bongo, towing the caravan, all was well with the weekend, towed there, solo for a couple of journeys. Hitched up to come back and something was wrong, the Bongo felt sluggish. First thought was it was the caravan brakes however that all checked out and on uncoupling found the problem was with the Bongo.

I can only describe it like the handbrake is left on. However the handbrake engages and disengages. I've now had both rear sides apart, stripped all brakes, shoes etc, cleaned and refitted (all look OK). I can't see anything obvious and was starting to think perhaps it was something drive train related however when I took it for a test run after putting back together (and it still acting the same) I took the temperatures of all brakes/wheels/diffs etc (infra red thermometer) and found as I did when towing last weekend, the rear brakes are very hot i.e. after about 3 miles today, with not a lot of braking, the front brakes were 60c and the rear were nearly 100c. Came home, in a spirited manner (as much as a hobbled Bongo will allow) and the rears were up to 120c (fronts only 80c). Now seeing as so little braking is done by the rear, would I be right in thinking it might be my rear calipers could be too blame? They shouldn't be that hot compared to the front? II'm kicking myself for not recording "normal" temperatures - hindsight hey! Questions I can't answer though are, would both sides bind at the same time, as both are exactly the same high temperatures. Aren't the brakes on diagonal circuits, therefore wouldn't it be one front, one back?

Thanks for your suggesting earlier Northern, that it might be brake linings but they looked fine. There is a bit of wear to them (mainly caused by the other half not being used to auto's and keep forgetting to take the handbrake off!)

Any suggestions as always would be much appreciated!

If you drive along slowly (say 5mph) slip the Bongo into neutral and let it coast to a halt, can you detect any snatching as the vehicle comes to a halt. If so, that would certainly point to binding brakes.

not sure about the temps noted being abnormal as the front has vented discs and the rears are solids. if the rear callipers were sticking or the handbrake levers are lazy to come off this should be sorted with a brake overhaul.
have you bled the brakes lately as water is absorbed into the fluid, this could boil the water trapped in the callipers, maybe change all the brake fluid.

have you checked the rear diff oil level and is the diff vent clear, these could lead to increased temps at the rear end.