The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How do I do the brakes?

I own a 1 ton, and figured maybe you "guys" can help me. I cannot find anything for a 8 lug. I can stop Thing with his e brake. But his brake pedal flopps around on the floor and is disconnected. I want to put disc on the front, but dont know how to, and rebuild his rear brakes. But first of all I need to know where to find 8 lug parts! And THEN what????

Chey:

IINM, Jim Carter\'s has 1 ton brake parts.

My FLAPS has quite a few of the parts (or can get them) and the cost was about the same.

You will probably need shoes, cylinders, hoses and lines. I replaced everything but the drums (they got turned) on mine. I don't screw around with brakes. If you'll pardon the pun, there's too much riding on them.

Also, somthing to think on, some time in 1953, they swapped the brake type on the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks from Huck-type to Bendix-type. Make sure you get the right parts. If you need help identifying your brake type, take a picture of your brake harware (sans drum) and post a link to it. We can tell you what you have.

One more thing: The stock drums are more than enough to stop my old truck. I looked at a front disc conversion, and it looked like an awful lot of work for not much gain (and the possibility of huge problems). I am perfectly happy pulling the wheels off and adjusting my shoes a few times a year.

I have started work on my '65 1 ton. I have redone all the hardware in the front drums but seem to still have a problem with air in lines.

There is one major thing I ran into...if you have the bendix brakes...I could NOT find a replacement wheel cylinder that was a true replacement.

The right front currently has a cylinder with a 9mm bleed screw on it. This is unique in two ways...1) The truck is a FREEKIN' '65!!! no metric and 2) They don't make tools for a 9mm bleed screw, only 8's and 10's. How neat is that?!?!

Also, the replacement cylinders all had bleeder screws that are so short the brake line gets in the way. The one (out of 12 I looked at) that was standard has a replacement screw that is longer...the metric has no replacement, I had to modify other parts to get a wrench to fit in there.

If you get stuff from carters that works, let me know...I have been to o'reily, napa, autozone, LMC, and advanced auto.

ya, i was also able to get most of mine at the local O reilly's, advanced auto parts, ect. lmc truck has 3/4 stuff so they might have 1 ton also,
but as BRENDAM M said "not to screw around with brakes"
the best word of advice is not to half-a$$ brakes put all new under it and it will be fine, and on my 49 3/4 ton it stops just fine having drum all the way around

I don,t think you will find much available to put discs on a 1 ton. Rest of the parts are reasonably available. Sometimes the drums are hard to find. If you need any part numbers I keep an old Napa brake parts catalog by my computer & can look up the numbers. You will have a lot of fun working on your old truck. You have a lot of good advice available here on the Stovebolt websight.

Hello Lost one. Brakes are actually one of the things that car owners can do even with today's modern vehicles. There aren't any electronics or smog equipment on brakes!! With the exception of modern antilock brakes but one can still replace worn pads and such on those.

Everyone who gets an old truck starts with brakes and would like to upgrade to discs. There are kits for 1/2 tons but not for anything bigger. Many of the guys here have figured out a way to engineer discs onto their big truck. Some go so far as to section on the front of a newer truck frame that has independent front suspension and hence the newer style brakes to go with. It's alot of ground to cover to make the upgrade. I would suggest replacing and/or rebuilding your stock brakes. IF you have hucks, some of the guys like to upgrade to bendix style. Never done this myself so some of the other guys here can advise on that. Then I would add a hydrovac unit. It's very easy to install and gives you power drum brakes, a huge improvement over the standard non-power drums which are frankly, pretty scary.

The components to a brake system are: Hydraulics: Master cylinder, steel hydraulic brake lines and flexible hoses that go from frame to wheels, and hydraulic cylinders at each wheel. Then each wheel has brake shoes that attach to the steel backing plate, and a brake drum that attaches to the wheel hub. The hydraulic cylinders are simple and contain a piston with a rubber seal. Replace those with new if possible. Rebuild them with a kit if no replacement available. Replace your shoes by doing one side at a time. That way if you forget how they go back together you can look at the other side. BIG SHOE GOES IN THE REAR. Replace drums with new if possible. Have the new front drums turned after you mount them to the hubs as this will distort their shape slightly and turning them will make them round again and give you better shoe to drum contact.

You're not looking at alot of money and the time you spend trying to figure it out is time well spent. Once you get started we can sorta walk you thru if you get stuck. All that's required are tools, patience (not my strong suit) and some nitrile gloves.

I personally will always prefer working on huck to bendix.

There are fewer springs to lose.

You need to be careful with those hydrovac units, though. Some of them will put your head through the windshield if you're not careful.

Wait! You need Nitrile Gloves?!

Brendan,
Yeah, I do like those nitrile gloves. They don't prevent welding burns though. Those dewberries get thru my leather gloves too. It's a little hard to work in an office with greasy fingernails and welding burns. However, I will say that WD40 doubles as a manly cologne.

1953,
you can buy or have rebuilt, just about anything on your original brakes except the drums. The drums are not made. However, I believe the drums for the 3/4 Ton are available for 53 and up. There are no quick kits to put discs on the front of a 53 1 Ton. Also the IFS kits are designed for the 1/2 Ton but that might not be a problem. If you could go with an IFS, discs would be available.

Well guys, I got the brakes done. Re done all the original stuff there. Still not discs, but they have stopping power...as of NOW...I will post (if alive) when they go out on me! Thanks so much for all of the help! Beers are on me!