brakes on our trucks - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

WOLFMANmike · 02-20-2018, 02:56 AM

so here it is the big question .. Can our trucks in the stock form as in a single bowl master and 4 wheel drum brakes can they still self adjust the rear shoes automaticly with out the Ebrake system hooked up ? i ask because i dont have the ebrake system on my truck and i can not for the life of me get my brakes to stay grabbing and adjusted for me after i put in new shoes and drive on them for a while then all the sudden im only stopping with the fronts and they get so hot so fast that they get spongy enough to almost put the peddle on the floor ... then the next stop light they are nice and firm peddle again ... now here is the kicker all new lines and wheel cylinders and shoes and new master no fluid loss at all only thing not new is the drums so what do you all think ? new drums ? or is the problem the ebrake system not being there ?

Killer Bee · 02-20-2018, 06:23 AM

I can't answer your question but I'll offer this bit of advice.. don't drive a single reservoir brake system without a working manual emergency brake.. in my brief percentage of years driving single reservoir equipped trucks, I've needed the manual emergency brake three times.. most recently two weeks ago.. both trucks I've experienced total brake loss in were manual trans so pucker factor was minimal but both were also more controllable with manual emergency brakes..

I'll be looking forward to hearing the answers to your questions.. I'll be overhauling the brake system in my 65 C20 sooner than I thought and not decided to keep it original or upgrade to dual reservoir..

good luck and be safe!

**PGSigns** · 02-20-2018, 08:09 AM

Are the self adjusters on the correct sides? You may be adjusting them away from the drums as you back up. I would never drive one of these trucks with a single pot for any longer than I absolutely had to! I have wrecked one when the pedal went to the floor and I never had time to pull the brake handle. The E-brake is one thing you should always have no matter what. Take the time to make some upgrades like a duel pot master cylinder and some repairs to your E-brake system.
Jimmy

Ken Cook · 02-20-2018, 11:27 AM

I have a 63’. The first time I looked at the brakes I relized that it doesn’t have self adjusters. I have been driving it fairly regularly for about a year and have not needed to adjust them.

1963 was the last year with no self adjusters.

02-20-2018, 02:56 AM	#1
WOLFMANmike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: oceanside CA Posts: 706	brakes on our trucks so here it is the big question .. Can our trucks in the stock form as in a single bowl master and 4 wheel drum brakes can they still self adjust the rear shoes automaticly with out the Ebrake system hooked up ? i ask because i dont have the ebrake system on my truck and i can not for the life of me get my brakes to stay grabbing and adjusted for me after i put in new shoes and drive on them for a while then all the sudden im only stopping with the fronts and they get so hot so fast that they get spongy enough to almost put the peddle on the floor ... then the next stop light they are nice and firm peddle again ... now here is the kicker all new lines and wheel cylinders and shoes and new master no fluid loss at all only thing not new is the drums so what do you all think ? new drums ? or is the problem the ebrake system not being there ? Last edited by WOLFMANmike; 02-20-2018 at 05:01 AM.

02-20-2018, 06:23 AM	#2
Killer Bee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barber City, CA Posts: 4,809	Re: brakes on our trucks I can't answer your question but I'll offer this bit of advice.. don't drive a single reservoir brake system without a working manual emergency brake.. in my brief percentage of years driving single reservoir equipped trucks, I've needed the manual emergency brake three times.. most recently two weeks ago.. both trucks I've experienced total brake loss in were manual trans so pucker factor was minimal but both were also more controllable with manual emergency brakes.. I'll be looking forward to hearing the answers to your questions.. I'll be overhauling the brake system in my 65 C20 sooner than I thought and not decided to keep it original or upgrade to dual reservoir.. good luck and be safe! __________________ *I started out with nothing - and I still have most of it*

02-20-2018, 08:09 AM	#3
PGSigns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Hayes Va Posts: 4,569	Re: brakes on our trucks Are the self adjusters on the correct sides? You may be adjusting them away from the drums as you back up. I would never drive one of these trucks with a single pot for any longer than I absolutely had to! I have wrecked one when the pedal went to the floor and I never had time to pull the brake handle. The E-brake is one thing you should always have no matter what. Take the time to make some upgrades like a duel pot master cylinder and some repairs to your E-brake system. Jimmy __________________ 60 to 66 Chevy and GMC window decals http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=661131 Good friends, good food and a hotrod what else do you need? 1966 BBW long fleet Daily driver 1965 BBW short fleet Sold and going to a good home 1965 Suburban 2003 3500 Duramax 2005 Ultra Classic

02-20-2018, 11:27 AM	#4
Ken Cook Registered User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Ragley, La. Posts: 137	Re: brakes on our trucks I have a 63’. The first time I looked at the brakes I relized that it doesn’t have self adjusters. I have been driving it fairly regularly for about a year and have not needed to adjust them. 1963 was the last year with no self adjusters.



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