Hello -- I have a '46 2Ton flat bed that I got a few years back. When I got her the brakes didn't work at all -- master cylinder was just about empty and the inside of the drums had powdery surface rust as if they hadn't been introduced to their shoes in 20 years. Filled & bled the hydraulic system, freed up the shoes & adjusted all four brakes and then started driving around carefully. The truck never did stop they way I thought she should but now things are getting worse instead of better. Essentially, the RR wheel has a lot of stopping power to the point it will lock up easily; the RF has a little stopping power but both left side wheels aren't even trying.
All four wheels are adjusted to where the shoes just barely drag. Brake pedal is good and solid; master cylinder is full and not losing oil over time; wheel cylinders look OK. When I freed up the brake shoes I was nervous about disassembling the hardware because I don't have a spare spring set and surely one of those buggers will fly around the shop never to be seen again, so I just used a pair of crowbars and pivoted the shoes out and in as the cylinder would do.
I'm tempted to pull both left drums and apply hydraulic pressure to verify that the cylinders really do expand. Is it possible that the left side cylinders are stuck and since this is a single chamber system all the oil is going to the right side causing forceful application of those brakes?
Any ideas will be most welcome. Also, does anyone know of a source for spring kits & shoes for the 2 tons?
Thanks,
Pete P.
Harborcreek, Penna.
