Truck brakes

Boondox · Sep 26, 2002

In the continuing saga of the 1957 Dodge pickup, I just finished replacing both wheel cylinders up front. Since there was so much rust, and so much difficulty getting replacement parts, I stripped things down to the backing plate and used that POR15 paint to reduce future corrosion. The truck looks great, but I'm a real mess. The instructions said to wear gloves, because once dry that stuff can't be removed. Figured I could be neat. Figured wrong. My hands will be gray till the top layer of skin sloughs off! Had a big gray spot on the tip of my nose, too. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Tried every chemical in the garage to no avail, and finally took a long shower and simply shaved my nose to get the paint off. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

But back to the truck. I have plenty of brake shoe left, and have adjusted the cams just shy of the point where the shoes rub the drum. Bled the brakes thoroughly and am getting only clear new fluid out. But the pedal goes much further down than before -- nearly to the floor -- and I can't reach the adjusting rod on the master cylinder to adjust the pedal free play. Gawd, parts of this truck are HARD to reach! Since it's my wife's truck, and we live on top of a long hill, good brakes are fairly important to me. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I'm thinking of just buying a new master cylinder and having the local garage swap it out for me.

Covered in grease and loving it!

Pete

s1120 · Sep 26, 2002

Your right on that Por15 stuff. Works real good, but if you get it on you, its there forever./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Also I hove found that when you replace part of the braking system, you put stress on the rest of it, becouse it it making more pressure. I would put in a new master, and most imporant, replace all the rubber lines!! Also if you want a project, swap to a dule cyl master. Much safer.

Anonymous Poster · Sep 26, 2002

I had to replace the rubber lines in my '85 Chevy truck. I can only imagine what they look like in that Dodge. Is there a small knock-out on the backing plate that would allow access to the adjusters with the drum on the hub? If there is, punch that sucker out and replace it with a rubber plug. That's what I did on that old Chevelle anyway.

Egon · Sep 26, 2002

If you have access to an air compressor an inexepensive sand blaster may be a definite asset in cleaning off the rust and accumulated gunk etc. when working on the truck.
When working on the braking system be prepared to do a lot of replacing if rust is prevelent and all pressure hoze/tubing and cylinders should be rebuilt or replaced on a vehicle of that age. Turn the drums too and install new shoes.
Egon

Boondox · Sep 26, 2002

Well, since I can't find another pair of drums I'm afraid to have these turned. I just rough them up with emory cloth and they seem pretty happy. All the brake lines were replaced a year ago, but one seems to be leaking. Judging from the shape of the rubber my bet is the last guy tried to screw it in without removing the wheel cylinder...just kept turning till the hose was all kinked up. I have the master cylinder on order, and will probably replace the rear wheel cylinders if I have the $$$ before the weather turns cold. No fun laying on concrete at minus ten.

The adjusters are just a pair of eccentric cams attached to a bolt that goes all the way thru the backing plate. Turn the bolt (big 1 1/4 sucker!) and the cam rotates to push the shoes out. Really simple, though I've never seen that arrangement before.

You know, the day will come when the drums are shot. Not sure what I'll do when that happens. Hopefully I'll find something in a desert junkyard. Hey, Muhammad lives in Arizona now! Buddy! Friend! Want more coffee??? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Pete

brewerbob · Sep 26, 2002

Pete: I think you may be able to order those drums from Napa. They have an old parts department if I recall correctly. You could turn the old ones if they are thick enough. The brakes on these trucks are bad even when they work perfectly.
Bob

Anonymous Poster · Sep 26, 2002

Have you tried posting on the Power Wagon forum? Even if you don't have an M-37 or a Power Wagon, thise guys will help you out with a dodge. www.dodgepowerwagon.com

Egon · Sep 27, 2002

Boondox:
Would you beleive I actually have a tool designed to turn that little cam wheel that is usually rusted stuck and another that's for taking off the springs that hold the shoes together. They haven't ben used for many a year. You may find later model truck drums that will fit and all of them had drums on the back. Just as an example a 1966 chrysler front wheel bearing was the same as a 1951 internation 1/2 ton front wheel bearing.
I'd love to have 1959 dodge long box with a 383 and four speed.

Egon

Boondox · Sep 27, 2002

Egon -- Sometimes I think design changes are made just so more tools can be sold! As for the springs, I've seen that tool, but depressing the spring by hand while turning the rod with a pair of needlenose pliers works just fine.

Is there a resource that gives dimensions for drums? Mine are 11" diameter and 2" deep. Looks like they changed to 2 1/4" deep since then. And of course the five lug pattern welded to the drum complicates things Struck out at NAPA, so it looks like junkyard raids are in my future. Sure would help if I knew which vehicles had drums like the ones I need.

Pete

Boondox · Sep 27, 2002

Bob -- NAPA was unable to help. They looked for several hours before admitting they had no source of drums for my truck. First time they've ever let me down.

Yes, the brakes are bad. On the plus side, the truck is slow. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Pete

Egon · Sep 27, 2002

Pete:
My limited knowledge has been exhausted. If the brakes fail entirely you may have to change out the axles to a year for which brakes are available. If my computer skills were better I'd spend some time searching on the net as I do have lots of time.
Sorry I've been of no help.
Egon

cj7 · Sep 27, 2002

Try that powerwagon board. I find it very hard to beleive that drums are no longer available. I can still get drums for a '46 jeep. Of course it is a different drum.

You may want to spend some time researching brakes conversions if this truck is used all the time. The ones mentioined are all good upgrades.

Boondox · Sep 27, 2002

On the contrary, you've been a tremendous help! The idea of swapping out to a later axle never even occurred to me! So I guess parts unavailability is a big factor in those old truck bodies running around on a late model chassis..?

Thanks a million! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Pete

bgott · Sep 28, 2002

http://www.antiquedodgeparts.com/partind.htm

They don't list drums but maybe they'll have an idea where to get them?

bgott · Sep 28, 2002

http://www.kanter.com/truck/trbk.html#bk3

The list of drums on this page goes from '58 to '80. It might be worth calling them anyway.

bgott · Sep 28, 2002

http://www.uglytruckling.com/06_brakes_d100.html

Disc brake conversion.

Boondox · Sep 28, 2002

Thanks! I struck out on the first two, but found a link to a promising place. And disc conversion is always an option, though I'd have to modify the brake line distribution somewhat. Thanks again

Pete

brewerbob · Sep 28, 2002

Pete: Another place to look is Hemmings. They have a web site, and their entire business is old cars and old car parts.
Bob

Boondox · Sep 29, 2002

Hemmings was my very first stop when we got the truck. It's just down the road a few miles and made a nice half-day trip (with plenty of orange and green tractors working in fields along the way -- note tractor theme /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif). Unfortunately, they didn't have much to offer for old Dodge owners. We got far more information off this thread than in the last two issues of HMN.

Pete

s1120 · Sep 29, 2002

Try this place.<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.classicpickups.com>http://www.classicpickups.com</A> I found it wile serching awile ago. Don't know if anyone there can help. but give it a shot.