The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 46 2 Ton brakes working one side only

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.

I would bet the wheel cylinders are rusted and not working unless you've replaced or rebuilt them. My truck had that problem after sitting several years and I had to rebuild the wheel cylinders. They weren't leaking. Not sure why. But they wouldn't budge when you pressed the brake pedal.

I would take all the drums off and check things out a little closer. You could even have an axle seal leaking and that could be causing the brake to grab. Marginal brake systems are dangerous to not only yourself but everyone else on the road.

A tip for springs that might take flight. Put a small pair of vice grips on the spring. Then remove it. Grips are easy to find and spring will be right there with them. Take the wheel cylinders apart. I think you have both pistons stuck in at least two of them. maybe even the one that "sorta" works has one stuck. My money would be on the wheel cylinders.

Proper attention to wheel cylinders it is. You're exactly right -- marginal brakes are dangerous. As they say, going is optional; stopping is mandatory.

Thanks,

Pete P.
Harborcreek, Penna.