The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 52 3600 in need of stopping power

Since Im beginning the process of starting my 52 3600 I am moving my truck around here and there. Not down the road mainly on and off a trailer and around the driveway. It has the original braking system in it. I filled the cylinder with fluid. The pedal will go to the floor and no brakes at any wheel. where do I start to make moving the truck around a little safer?

Depends on your budget, but brakes are not something to cheap out on.

First, are there any obvious leaks? These will generally be at each wheel (fluid dribbling down the inside of a tire) or at the master cylinder itself. Lines can rust and/or split, but it's usually a wheel cylinder.

If nothing obvious, jack up each wheel, spin it and have someone press the brakes. If you find one that doesn't stop, chances are the wheel cylinder is bad. If you can identify the bad ones, you can replace them individually, but honestly, you really ought to just go ahead and replace all of them.

If none of them will stop the wheel from spinning, it's possible that the master is bad. I actually don't know of any good way to test this other than opening up a couple of the bleeders, pressing the pedal and looking to see if it squirts out brake fluid. That's not even a great test since the wheel cylinders could be clogged.

If you have the funds, replace all four wheel cylinders, rebuild or replace the master cylinder, replace all the soft lines and assess whether or not the hard lines need replaced. Then, bleed the entire system until you have clean DOT 3 coming out of all the bleeders. If you don't do it all now, you will wish you had later.

I replaced all the brake lines on mine and rebuilt the master cylinder. Helped it out alot

KSTT

Joshua,
I'm with chiklin and kstechtom on this one.
For me,brakes are the single most important thing to start with on any project.
Personally I would rebuild the entire system.

It's peace of mind.

Specific to your question, when you "filled the cylinder with fluid". Was that just to top it off..... or was it concerningly low or empty? You should start with a bench bleed if it was concerningly low or empty. You might try plugging the out port of the m/c to see if the pedal is "on top and firm". If so, then the m/c is good and the problem is elsewhere in the system.

Now, looking forward, If you find it needs $$$parts to repair, it would be beneficial to determine "What" your project plans are.

Good luck

So far I have been researching for a front disc brake conversion. The problem I am having is finding an 8 lug conversion. All that I have found are five and six lug. I need to find a kit to fit my 3/4 ton 3600.

Nobody makes a kit for an eight lug, to my knowledge anyway.
Those who have done it have fabbed their own.

Have been finding the same lack of 3600 parts here, found some 12" discs that I could make work(since no one sells kits with 8-lug disc) but all the brackets that can be purchsed seperatly are set up for the 5 bolt 11 1/2 inch rotors. Did find a kit that comes with 6-lug 12 inch rotors (so the brakets would be the right size) but I dont want to spend that much $$ just to get the brackets. And I don't know for sure it would be right (I think the 4 bolt pattern that mounts the brake backing plate is smaller on a half ton?). Right now I'm leaning toward the bendix style brake set-up I was given off a 57 truck (they went to 1/2 ton axles) or if I want disc I'll swap to a half ton axle (no-one can count the lugs when they're covered by the hubcap) If I find any better Ideas I'll let you know.

KSTT

BTW I was told there is not enough demand for 8-lug kits guess the manf. aren't looking here??

It seems like whenever its something that I have its hard to find a great fit haha. Maybe we should tell the manufacturer to check our forum ha. I agree with what you are saying about switching the axle. But I like having the bigger axle because I like that I can handle some towing in my truck. I plan on putting load air bags in the back to stiffen the rear when hauling a load. Also I will be adding track arms to the rear end.

I refilled my master cylinder bc it was empty. I looked at it last night and its pretty rusty in there. So im assuming its no good and thats causing the first brake problem?

Like sfsutton said, the master cylinder (and probably the rest of the system) will need to be bled.

I did a few old chevys, cars and trucks. Plan on starting with the master cly. expect to redo all of the wheel cylinders. You may have to replace a steel line or two. do not forget the three brake hoses.

search for my post about converting brakes. I'm getting close.