The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Bringing back the brakes?

My '52 6400 runs (poorly) and drives (slowly), but does not stop very well. The brake peddle goes straight to the floor, and I have to grab the emergency brake to stop it. Even running it around the yard that's a little scary.

I've never had one of these apart, so I don't know what to expect. I'm thinking I need to pull each wheel off and inspect the wheel cylinders first. Has anyone located a rebuild kit for these?

Once I'm happy with the wheel cylinders I plan to inspect the lines and replace any that seem weak.

Then I figure I have to go after the hydrovac and the master cylinder.

I'd appreciate any pointers, including pointers to resources, as I ponder fixing my brakes.

I keep thinking through my direction with this truck, and its the brakes that seem to be the obstacle to keeping it stock. I know it would not actually be cheaper or less work, but putting modern brakes under it sure seems an attractive answer....

For my 53 GMC 353-24 I found Alretta Truck Parts in Framingham MA. (508) 788-9409. Jeff knew exactly what I was trying to find and was able to ship all the parts including a rebuilt Hydrovac unit inside of a week as well as giving me a few pointers. Sure better than the blank stares at the local Napa.

My opinion, kits won't help ya, the cyls won't clean up the pits with honing. New ones are around, expensive and two each side in back!
Fronts are same as rear of a 3/4 ton or maybe one-ton and easier to find at vendors, try Chevy Duty for those. Get shoes re-lined at local brake supply house if you have one, cheaper and very few people will have new shoes. Bow Tie Bits is good source for some items for big trucks. A line blown is my First item to look for, these rust easy, when setting around in grass for years. Start there, fill MC and pump while you look around for leaking spots. Hydro-vacs you can't do much with, no kits for them. Usually need to replace with another unit. Have Fun! Don't be in a Hurry to get these done, it's gonna take awhile!

Bleeding a system with a Hydro-Vac is a PITA! Get ready to use up a lot of fluid before all the air works its way out!
Jerry

I looked up the pieces in the Jim Carter catalog and it looks like nearly $1,000 to replace the master cylinder, wheel cylinders and hydrovac. That's before touching the drums or shoes.

I doubt the truck will be worth the cost of the brake job even once its finished!

I'd rather replace everything and be sure its all good. Might be much less painful to only repair or replace those pieces that are clearly broken...

You will have to tear it down to see if you have anything to rebuild. If there's no pits, I would replace the rubber parts in the master and wheel cylinders, replace rubber brake lines and steel brake lines. Then reline the shoes and resurface drums and repack front wheel bearings. If the hydrovac works, it's a bonus if not, do with out it. I did the above to my '48 for about $400.00.
Just my 2 cents worth,
Scott

Jim Carter seems relatively expensive but has some parts that others don't advertise. You may want to check into having the old cylinders sleeved with stainless or brass. Costs something like $30/sleeve. Then get rebuild kits or replacement cups (available at your local parts store) and you're done. Might be cheaper and should last longer.

Old Sub - I did the front axel and master cylinder for under $100 for everything from NAPA (rebuild kits as cylinders were not pitted)

My GMC COE 450 has a hydrovac that I had rebuilt in Seattle for about $150 - $175 - looks like new and works well.

There is a guy on this site (I forget his name) that does brake cylinder sleeving as well using stainless sleeves . . . look for a post a few months ago in the big bolts forum for when I started my brake work on my 4400 and he had part #'s ready to go for me.

Turns out my rear axle is from a 55 second series or newer truck. I have another that has newer brakes and is a low mile vacuum shift 2 spd that I will stick under the 4400 when winter comes.

$100 bites I can handle. If its going to take $1,000 it will be hard to explain to the wife...

I found it. Brake part numbers link. Thanks Ken!

Oldsub,

I was BS'n with a guy about his 47 big bolt with a wrecker body on the back. The brakes were bad so he brought it to a shop...$3,000 later.....new brakes.....

needless to say....He was not planning on spending that much....

I'm keeping an eye on that truck...in a few years it will be for sale....new brakes and all.

Ken's right you don't have to get silly GO NAPA!!!

Three more things...... Get a set of stainless brake lines...They don't flex and that helps

Next rebush the peddle .....this really helps

AND DON'T USE SYN. BRAKE FLUID ONLY THE REAL STUFF!!!

You'll never get a super hard peddle with the fake stuff

I have a 'go-no go' set for brake cylinders It's a good tool if your worried about making them too big!!

I agree that you should replace most of it. I am still working out the bugs on the brake job for my '55 GMC 450 series. I too tried to rebuild the wheel cylinders, which ended up seeping and are now new, I found them at Brake and Equipment Warehouse in MN 1-800-523-4632 good prices and fast turnaround time, I even emailed a pic and they double checked a match.

I also had my hydrovac rebuilt by some folks in CA, check em out. http://resleeve.com/booster.htm

It's hard to do it all at once I wish I did and I would be stopping now. Plug away at it, see what you have rebuilding may work out alright.

Hey J.H. what do you mean by rebush the pedal?

I've had decent luck honing old cylinders. If you keep your old lines, be sure to flush them out good. Foriegn objects can cause even new cylinders to leak. On my '49 1 1/2 ton, I disassemled my hydro-vac, cleaned every part and reassembled it. It works fine without leaks, but the rubber parts were still pliable and the bore was not pitted.

In the 39 both the brake piviot and clutch piviot were badly oval
I reshaped both and bushed the peddle piviots

No more rattle and much better peddle pressures

I run disc brakes without a power booster.....just a Mustang II
master

It's a little bolt so I don't haul much bikes,a plane just daily stuff

Haulin' is the 36 Ace and Diamond T's job

I'm doing my brakes right now, I'm kitting the rear cylinders, and I'll see if that works. I honed it to .002 over and it took off most of the damage. The only pits are in the center where the cups never reach. My shoes had plenty left, burned the fluid out with a torch. I need to turn one of the drums, but I don't have the time for it now. I was able to get the rebuild kits from my local parts store (Federated Auto Supply). NAPA has the kits too, but no cylinders. The kits I have are Raybestos parts. The kits are $15 and new cylinders are $70.

the front cylinders for my 44 were only about 40 bucks each, got them through O'Reilley... I haven't started looking for the 52 rear brakes yet, with 4 cylinders, that will not be fun...

-Mike R.

Well I needed to move one of my big bolts and got it stuck in the mud...

And where its sitting, the other one can't be moved now either.

So I may not be working on either of them before spring now! Guess the brake job will have to wait.