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| | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | Good afternoon Big Bolters!
I am having a brake issue and was wondering it someone here might have experienced a similar problem or know what is causing mine. So, I have my 1952 Chevy 6400 that I bought last fall.
Back then, if you used the brakes quite a bit they would get where they would hang up after stopping but would release fairly quickly once you started moving again. Then over the winter I got in to drive it one day and the brake pedal went to the floor so the first thing I checked was the fluid level in the master cylinder. I added a little (wasn't too low), then went for a drive.
For awhile, the pedal was spongy but I had brakes about 2/3 of the way down. Then it got where I had good stiff pedal, which would travel about 1/4 the way down before the pedal got stiff and you could feel braking. During this time, there were times for the first few miles that I would really have to push the pedal to stop, and it took a few more seconds than normal.
All this time, the brakes were not dragging. Today, I went for about a 10 mile drive and same thing with the pedal but when I got home and backed the truck into it's parking spot, I noticed that the brakes were hung up and now I can't push the pedal down at all. It's all the way to the top won't move and the brakes are locked up.
I would imagine once the truck cools off (overnight), the brakes will possibly release but with this new development, I can't really drive the truck.
This is the first two ton with hydrovac brakes that I have owned. Would just like to get some thoughts and recommendations on what you all would do at this point on the old trucks brake system.
Thanks!!
Kevin
Last edited by kthomas; 06/16/2018 9:16 PM.
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,792 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,792 | The upstream master cylinder (the one operated by the brake pedal) must have some free travel before it begins pushing fluid to the hydrovac. John's fire truck had the same symptoms at the homecoming in 2017, and we fixed it by shortening the pushrod between the brake pedal and the firewall mounted MC. There's a bleeder port that must be uncovered each time the pedal is released, or it keeps a little pressure on the shuttle valve to the hydrovac. That causes the brakes to drag after a few applications.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | Thank you Jerry!
Tomorrow, I will see if I can adjust the travel on it.
Kevin
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 313 | Just went out and checked the brake pedal and sure enough, it will travel about 1 inch before hitting stiff pedal. I will adjust tomorrow.
Kevin
1953 3100 with 1957 235, T5 and 12 bolt 373 rear
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