Thanks for all the replies.
when I rebuilt the brakes I installed a new dual master cylinder, I assumed it was designed for my set up. I haven't gotten back out to pull the drums, but I'm wondering if I somehow got the shoes reversed. As I understand it one of the shoes goes towards the front of the truck and one goes towards the back and one of them is self actuating. The thing is, I don't have many miles on the truck since the restoration (like 100 or so) and the brakes worked well until I had to climb the (very) rough steep hill leading to my house. Then they locked up.
One other thing, when I did the brakes orgininaly I noticed that there was a grove worn in the backing plate where there is a flat spot. I think this is where the shoes ride as they move to engage/disengage. Maybe they are hanging up. I don't know if there are replacement backing plates available.
Hopefully I'll be able to get out and dive into things next week
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur (
https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
Tim
