I need some help on the parking brake adjustment. After the brakes are adjusted the parking brake still does not hold on a slope. The manual says the adjustment is made by shortening the length of the cable pulling on the brakes on both side of the truck by turning the clevis. Is this the only adjustment?
Darren Current Project - 1950 3100 5 Window with a rebuilt 216 and 3 speed trans
Darren, Just to confirm, your brakes are still the original Huck style and haven't been upgraded to later Bendix style??? From what I can see in the Shop Manual, that is not the only adjustment point for the parking brakes on the 1948-50 Huck parking brakes. See page 5-22 and the "PARKING BRAKE TOGGLE LEVER ADJUSTMENT" along with Fig. 45 that details a required adjustment anytime the rear shoes are installed/replaced. Seems like this must be done after the brakes hydraulic adjustments are done and before the cable adjustment. Hope this helps???
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
You need to be aware that Huck brakes usually need a period of "wearing in" to full contact with the drums before either the service brakes or the parking brake achieves full effectiveness. That usually requires repeated adjustments for the first few miles of operation. The only way to shortstop that process is to grind or sand the brake linings to match the radius of the drum. I like to stick a piece of coarse sandpaper to the drum with water-soluble glue and scuff the linings into full contact with the drum before installing the shoes. Then use boiling water to remove the sandpaper. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
The rod which goes between the brake pedal lever and the crossbar behind the cab needs to be adjusted properly as well. You also need to pull really hard on those cables to make sure that the shoes are contacting the drums before attaching the cables to the crossbar levers. I recommend that you read The Book several times as there are a lot of steps in the process setting up the parking brakes. You may even want to write out the process in your own words so that it makes more sense to you. I find that this helps me understand the process of many repairs described in the book, not just brakes.
Last edited by 52Carl; 03/17/20247:06 PM.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Discovered that the screw slot of the eccentric bolt is broken on one side so I can’t break the bolt loose. I hope find a replacement. Any suggestions on finding one is welcome.
Darren Current Project - 1950 3100 5 Window with a rebuilt 216 and 3 speed trans
Take an undamaged one to your favorite machinist. He can make a replacement. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Darren, Another option is to post an ad in our Truck Pats Wanted forum. I recall several folks recently talking about converting their earlier Huck brakes to Bendix style and some of those folks may have just what you need.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
