The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts '52 1.5 ton model number and brake bleed

Hello,

My truck's ID plate is missing. It's titled with VIN KEA517163. Can anyone tell what my model number is? Also, is there a sequence (front, back, left, right) for bleeding brakes? The PO said the rear wheels have two wheel cylinders - which one bleeds first.

I apologize for being such a newb.
Thank you. ~hillbilly6977
http://picasaweb.google.com/hillbilly6977/1952Chevrolet15TonFlatbedDump#

Looks like it's titled off the engine serial no. Your truck is actually a 6400 series 2 ton, or maybe a 6500 Heavy Duty 2 ton. A 4400 series 1 1/2 ton, would have push on front bearing dust caps, instead of bolt on caps. When bleeding brakes on big trucks always start at the wheel cyl. farthest away from the master cyl. first. Bleed the hydrovac booster first. Nice looking truck.

Thanks for the info Spanky. I really like this truck. I hope to start hauling gravel tomorrow. I plan on taking more pictures and video of the truck working. Any good reading material out there about big bolts?

If just a general bleeding starting at the rear is ok, but if a new master or hydrovac is installed you would start at the cylnder closest to the unit replaced, this way you won't have to drag air all the way thru the system, what makes you think they need to be bled.

The PO rebuilt all wheel cylinders and the master cylinder and removed the hydrovac. The master was bench bled before installation. I have to pump the pedal 4-5 times to get a solid pedal. Sometime the driver-side rear duals lock up on gravel. I hope a bleed will give me brakes I'm happy with.

hillbilly,

Are you sure you have the correct Master Cylinder? If the bore is smaller then it was originally it will give you the problem you discribe.

Also, if the shoes are out adjustment (to far away from the drums) you have to pump the pedal to stop.

Mike B

Mike B,
The PO used kits to rebuild all of the original components. He did the master cylinder the day before I picked up the truck and had nobody to help him with the bleed. I'm not much of a wrench, but I thought I'd try to do it myself before I take it to a shop. I'd gladly pay a Bolter to do it for me!

I just put this on another post::::I have a 52 6400 and I put a on the firewall split system. The vac booster/master set up was $200 at NAPA and went to a chevy 1-1/2 ton, 1997 I think. Part No# 54-71046.Used the pedal from a S-10 and built the support for it. My rear wheel cylinders were good so I just put on new front ones. I had just cleaned the seat with WD-40 and went to try them. I was slammed into the steering wheel with great force. This is now a split system so if one brake line goes bad you still have brakes. Bob

Alaskabobb,
I for one would like to see some pictures of your setup. I would like to switch my truck over to a dual system and as my hydrovac is toast I think now is the time.

Alaskabobb,

How did you get all of the air out of your brake lines with the trap you created by running the lines up and over the Master Cylinder?

Mike B

I bought a '51 Dodge COE once that the PO had recently rebuilt all of the wheel cylinders, & master cylinder. He couldn't, & I couldn't get all the air out of the system while bleeding it. I finally realized he had put the master cylinder back together wrong. Once I got the spring, piston, & cup back in, in the corect order, I was able to bleed the system.