The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Brakes failing. Wheel rubbing on hose?

Hello all,

In late December while driving around with my son in our cool 64 Shortbed, I lost brake pressure and the pedal went to the floor. Needless to say this is not something I look forward to. I got the truck home safely (and told my son he need not mention this to my wife!). The next day I checked and found that the flexible hose on the driver side front tire had ruptured. $15 dollars and a little elbow grease and I was back on the road!

I had attributed this to the age of the vehicle. However it just happened again! This time I wanted to find out what was causing the problem. It appears the the inside of the wheel rubs a spot when I have the tire cranked to the left. Is this a "known" issue? Am I missing some kind of limiter? I suppose I could rig up something to have the hose flex inward, instead of out. Your thoughts please.

Best Regards,
Joe "The Forge Dude" Zellmer

On the factory 4x4 trucks, there is a spring from the flex hose on the front drum brakes to the inner fender, to hold the brake line out of the way and keep it from sagging into the path of the tire. I thought this was a modification done by a previous owner, but upon consulting the 1960-1966 Chev/GMC Factory Assembly Manual, and a few other fatory 4x4 trucks I own, I discovered this was the factory solution on the 4x4 trucks, but I have never encountered this issue on the 2wd trucks. This may be a good solution to your situation, as well.

Thanks Tony, Good thinking. I think I found the reference in the assembly manual (527797 spring) with a little clip around the brake hose and the other end attached to a hole in the fender skirt. I'm thinking I can rig that up. It's people like you who make this group a pleasure to belong!

Thanks again,
Joe

but your truck is a 2 wheel dr. it is just the orientation of how you have the hose installed; you just need to have it bowing the other way. there is also the possibility that a po has installed a hose that was to long. check the travel of the hose as you move the str from lock to lock
ron
when you got your new hose did you get it by application or by matching it up with the new one

Do you have wider wheels than stock on the truck? If you have too much backspacing, that could be where you're running into the problem.

I suggest swapping to a dual-reservoir master cylinder, too... That'll take a little less "OH!" out of an "Oh Shi#!" situation.

-Brad

As to the wheels, not sure they are any wider then the stock tires. I did not get a chance to crawl under the old girl and check the other side to see if I was suffering the same fate on the passenger side.

When I purchased the new hose I did not measure it against the older one, I just asked for the hose for a C-10 with the 230 CID Engine. So I am thinking its the correct one. Of course the same fellow gave me the wrong diameter brake line...hmmmmm.

I'll be messing around with it this weekend and see if I can re-align the way it flexes as someone suggested in a earlier reply. I might try to sneak into a Toyota dealership and tell them my gas pedal is sticking and see if that can fix the brake hose...mwuhahahaha

Upon success I shall post a picture!

Thanks!
Joe

And the winner is..Padresag! I checked the passenger side and it does indeed appear the positioning/flex of the hose is towards the center of the wheel mounting, tucked away from the rotating menace of the wheel. So with a quick few turns of the wrench, a nifty one man brake bleeder I'm back on the road.

I will be looking into the upgrade to the single master cylinder. Great suggestions all, thanks for the tips.

Joe