The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Pay attention to your BRAKES

Gang,
Listen up! In going through the latest Gallery Submissions today, Peg and I got a very stark safety reminder. EVERYONE should pay heed.

When dealing with these old trucks, safety must be everyone's priority. I know we preach this a lot, but don't overlook your brakes. If you plan to drive the truck, the FIRST thing you should go over is the braking system -- If you plan to GO, be able to STOP.
Read This for a reminder.

Everybody -- Please check your brakes over the winter. Please!

Then do your steering.

We'll be checking with Jake to see what we can do to help.

Thanks,
John

p.s. -- While you're at it, how about rereading the Safety Article.

Well John, You could have helped last week when I installed the new front discs,

John-good advice! You never know about critical parts of a vehicle if you don't check or have things checked.

I have a '64 K10 'Burb. Over the last 3 years I have been having things like brakes, etc. changed out. Not because anything had failed but because when it comes to brakes, steering, etc. I don't like the idea of my life depending on 43 year old parts.

6 months or so I took the truck into the local shop to have tie rods, etc. checked out. The mechanic, Jim, who does most of the work on the truck said tie rods, etc. were fine. But, he asked me to look at the frame where the steering box is bolted to it. He got behind the steering wheel and began turning it from side to side. I could see the steering box moving as he turned the steering wheel. There was a 3" long crack in the frame that radiated out from one of the bolt holes where the steering box was bolted to the frame. Think about what might happen at 65 mph if the steering box broke away.

Jim welded the crack and placed a 1/4" plate on the inside of the frame, and welded it to the frame. The bolts for the steering box now go through the frame AND the 1/4" plate.

It's very good knowing I have someone that goes the extra mile to keep my vehicle safe. Jim and I have an understanding that when I bring the truck in, for whatever reason, that if he spots something that needs attention he does the work required.

If a guy is going to drive an old truck, it needs to be safe, before it's pretty.

Ok, I will check mine now.

The other thing to not forget is seatbelts that are bolted in correctly.

Good advice John!!

BTW, thats exactly one of the projects I'm working on this winter! I've already worked on my brake system at each wheel and now am rebuilding the master cylinder. It leaked like a sieve and was barely functioning.

I had a scary event one day right after I bought "Lucille". I was out for a ride and approached a very busy intersection and could barely STOP at the RED light!! Scared the you know what out of me!! Fortunately I was driving slow but had to down-shift to first gear to keep from rolling into the intersection!! Lucille was just full of these defered maintanence issues and believe me, nothing is more important than having the ability to STOP!!

Thanks for the heads-up for everyone!! FIX THOSE BRAKES!!!

Back in 80 I was changing the ball joints on a 60 Apache 10, needed some more room under the truck. So I put a bumper jack on the front and raised it as high as I could, when I heard it hit the wall of the garage. I am walking today because I had jack stands under it. Of course the stand is a little shorter than the other one. Both my legs were under the front end,while I was beating on the rivits. Always use caution after that,Was only 19 when that happened.