The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Advice please? replacing wheel cylinders

I have four new wheel cylinders and front brake hoses to put on my '61 3/4 ton.

I have looked in the shop manual, and they make it sound fairly easy. But, I've been reading some of the posts on brake troubleshooting, and it sounds like it is "finesse" kind of work.

I want to do as much work as possible myself, but I am a total "newbie" at mechanics. Mind you, I'm not afraid of dirt and grease by any means, I'm just a little leery of totally screwing something up. (I live 45 minutes from the nearest mechanic shop.)

Is this work something best left to more experienced people, or is it fairly straight forward?
If I do it myself, are there any hints, or "watch outs" you can tell me?
Are there special tools required? (I have a pair of brake pliers, and your basic assortment of wrenches and sockets. No air tools.)

Thanks,
Husker

My advise is to take your time and study your truck as you go. Jack up the front end and remove the wheels and brake drums. Only rework one side at a time. Do one side from start to finish and use the other side as a reference. If you forget how a spring goes on or an adjuster or whatever, you will have the other side to look at. Left and right side brakes aren't identical, so don't strip one side down then rely on the other side for reassembly. Take notes or even pictures if you are unsure of anything. Brakes are the most important system on a vehicle.
Good luck,
Scott

Thanks for the advice. And pictures sound like a good "back-up" plan too. I'll take it careful and study it out.

Husker

Husker;

When you are doing the front brakes, www.brotherstrucks.com has a tech section that shows how to replace the front bearings. Good article, but lousy pictures.

Husker,
Be safe... the black dust inside the drum is loaded with asbestos; it would be good to wear a mask.

Taking the brake springs off and putting them on can be tricky; a spring tool is a good investment if you are going to do the whole brake system. You can get one cheap enough at any parts store.

If the old truck has been setting long you could have some bad brake lines too. I replaced everything on the brake system on my '52.

If you are mechanically inclined you should be able to do the brakes. If you aren't you picked a tough hobby!

Good luck with it!

A digital camera in your tool box is real helpful. I like to take lots of pictures just in case, and sometimes I never download them, other times they have saved me lots of grief.

Not to scare you butwhen i did the brake job on my truck i had to replace one cylender.Geuss wich one didnt work The problem seemed to be that it was asembled dry.Itook it apart and rubed the cylender,seal and piston with brake fluid and then it worked fine.

Thanks for all the great tips! I'll let you all know how it comes out.

Husker