Hello everyone, I purchased a 1954 Chev 3100 truck and working on replacing all the braking system components. Rear brakes completed including new wheel cylinders springs, shoes, adjusters, and axle seals. Now working on the front brakes, then newbrake master cyliner.
When I removed the front axle hub nut dust cover, to my surprise I found that there were no Kotter pins on both castle nuts! Wow! Also I see a sticky substance on the inside of the drum that looks like it's from the wheel bearing grease - all I can think of is the wromg grease was used (non-high temp) and the grease ran out of the bearings. The wheel cylinder looks dry - so I don't think it's brake fluid. The rubber brake line hoses are cracked, so I'm replacing them along with wheel cylinders and all brake hardware, including the adjusters.
Just thought I would share that it's a good idea to do a thurough check over when you buy a new vehicle!
Those ball bearings did not originally use high temp grease. They used high metallic soap grease, or what many would refer to as fiberious grease. It did melt a bit with some use but was better for the ball bearings. Hard to come by these days and I am not even certain it is still made. One thing for certain you can’t get it at the local auto parts store.
Amalie Heavy Duty Wheel Bearing Grease is highly fibrous sodium grease formulated to provide excellent lubrication properties for open, heavy-duty bearings. Amalie Heavy Duty Wheel Bearing Grease imparts excellent resistance to displacement under high loads or centrifugal action. Not recommended for disc brakes.
George '54 3600
Last edited by '54 3600; 01/01/20199:53 PM. Reason: add
1954 3600 A big help to many on the Bolt Now cruising in The Passing Lane
I'm old enough to remember the fibrous bearing grease. I didn't know it was still available.
When I repacked the front wheel bearings in my 3600 years ago I used a "water proof" grease sold for boat trailers. It worked fine... though it may have been too light for those truck bearings. No failures while I owned it. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart.
Rockauto.com lists them for front/back of your 3100.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
Thanks - Martin - I have already purchased all new brake wheel cylinders and brake master cylinder. My planning was to replace all brake hardware before looking at it, due to the fact that when I removed the lid to the brake master cylinder, it was empty of brake fluid and leaking.
Back when my funds were more limited, I would nickle and dime some of the brake parts, rather than replacing everything at the same time. That is bad medicine. There are few things more satisfying to me than the piece of mind knowing that my entire brake system is right. I will tolerate something like a mysterious drive train noise until shows itself from future wear, but not the brakes. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
On the list of things to do is to replace all the grease Zerks and push new grease into all of them, especially the king pins and front steering components. With the tires on and off the ground, everything felt tight.
The wheel cylinders in my latest 3600, which had been sitting for 20+ years, looked like that. The old brake fluid makes a good electrolyte for galvanic corrosion between the steel/ iron cylinder and the aluminum piston. I was able to overhaul mine and re-use with new seats and springs. Next time I think I will just replace them.
New brake master cylinder installed, and bled on the truck before brake lines attached. Adjusted all 4 wheels brakes to drag a little. Connected brake lines to master cylinder and pumped them up. I have a firm 1/2 pedal even before bleeding the brakes. I replaced all brake hardware on all 4 wheels. The system is full of air . But so far a good sign.
Last edited by darthintel; 01/18/20195:12 PM. Reason: wrong picture
