The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk still no brakes on 66

I have bled these dang brakes till the wifes leg gave out and it still takes 2 pumps to get pedal.Ive added speed bleeders to the rear went around the wheels again farthest to closest and still the same.wHAT AM I MISSING? On the second pump the pedal is hard and holds..

You must not have the shoes adjusted all the way out. Or maybe a wheel cylinder piston rod is not in the shoe. Adjust each wheel till you get a heavy drag. Than back off 3-4 notches. If thats not it pull the drums & make shure everything is in correctly. You will have to take good wife out to dinner after this is done.

After you get the brake shoes done, you may have to adjust the pedal rod, especially if you had any of that apart or loose,
Scott

I havent had any of it apart yet.THE P.O. told me that they worked fine untill he broke and replaced one of the brake lines.I drove it abought 25o mile home and the brakes are good on the 2nd pump but go to the floor on the first.The vacume asist wouldnd cause this would it?

Sounds like a Volume problem. Sure you have right bore size on Master? That's how mine acted on a truck with too small of Master. Are you aware the Hydro-vac needs bleeding also? Sometimes two bleeders on them.
These big trucks, have dual rear cylinders, and are hard to get air from one's in back, because of their position and only one bleeder on one cylinder. Sometimes you need to jack up truck or release brake line nuts to bleed those. There is an article in last months Vintage Truck magazine about bleeding the older rigs.
I believe it is better to bleed the master, the hydro next, then the CLOSEST, shortest wheel line in front, then other front, and follow rear lines back, do the one nearest frame with line on it, Then do the last farther away one. My idea is that you are following the fluid around system as you go, each time getting air farther down system. Does your hydro-vac work? Should be difference in how brakes work when running truck and when off. Sometimes, the force of hydro works the air down system easier. Look at those rear cylinders, bet that's the problem.

Hey Slow..Rider, you ever get that 42 done yet??

I agree with Wrenchbender;
You probably need to adjust your brakes. chances are they worked like this before the line was replaced.
Speed

Chriss $till workin on it.I bled them twice saterday laying in 4 inches of very cold water.Sunday i pulled it out on the dry road.Today we got 23 inches of snow so itl be awhile before i can get back at it.G.L.THANKS,ill try that when i can get back to it.

If you pulled a length of brake line off, it will take several attempts to get all the air bled out. Here's a procedure I wrote down when I was younger...
1-have assistant pump brakes 1/2 way down several times (~15 seconds)
2-press and hold the brakes firmly
3-open bleeder screw for a few seconds, then close up again
4-release brake pedal
5-WAIT 15 seconds
6-repeat steps 1-5 at all four tires until ALL the air is out!
P.S. Don;t forget to keep an eye on the fluid in the master cylinder. if it gets too low, you will be introducing air into the lines again
Dano