Wrenchbender and all,
Well I'm slowly getting there. Both rear wheels are off with the truck being on jack stands. When I pulled the rear drums off the star adjusting wheels were almost outside of the wheel cylinders. Well, I said, that's not right! When I thought about it for awhile and figured out that the brake fluid was not returning back to the M/C. One thing I confirmed is the M/C push rod is not adjusted properly because the brake fluid if not allowed to return. The compensating port is blocked. I'm still trying to figure out exactly where the push rod adjustment should be. First I screwed it "into" the yoke that attaches itself to the brake pedal. Fantastic! Break fluid flowed back into the M/C! I then went back and adjusted the star wheels and got them in the position I thought they should be. Put the tires back on the truck and rolled her out of the garage and "wham" no breaks at all!! Brake pedal goes to the floor!!
So, what in the world is this all about?
Pushed the truck back in the garage, pulled the wheels, etc. Most everything looked OK. Made a few more adjustments with the star wheels. Then I thought it must be the adjustment on the push rod at the M/C!! Maybe I went the wrong way? So this time I unscrewed "out" of the yoke and low and behold I start getting brake pedal resistance! So right now I've put the brake drums back on, held with a couple of nuts, and the brake pedal moves about 4 inches before I can truly feel the resistance. The pedal finishes out about 3 inches from the foot board. There is no information I've been able to find about just where this push rod should be adjusted to. Do I stop at where I have it now? How can I determine if the brake fluid is flowing back to the M/C? Can I just simply remove the M/C cover and watch the fluid move or do you have to have the cover on in order for the M/C to work properly?
I do understand that brake fluid must be able to move back and forth in the system otherwise your going to overheat and lock up!
It's just this question of master cylinder push rod adjustment and just where it should be? I've also figured out that those star adjusting wheel cups have to be up against the wheel cylinder casting. For me it's so much easier to adjust those wheel cylinders and brake pads when the drums are slipped on and off to get a decent slip fit.
I'm getting there. Just need some advice on whether I'm on the right track? Wheels on, wheels off, wheels on, wheels off....that gets tiring for an "Old Guy"!!
