The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1965 C60...brakes and split rims

Hi everyone. Long time Chevy guy but first time medium duty owner. I just recently picked up a 1965 C 60. Truck is in great shape body wise with very very minimal rust but does. have a few mechanical issues. My biggest concern at this point is the brakes. I have a pretty serious leak on the passenger side rear so I am assuming I have a bad wheel cylinder. While I am well versed in repairing brakes, I am concerned about the split rim wheels which I am pretty sure this truck is equipped with. I plan on upgrading to one piece rims in the future but for now I need to get the brakes functioning correctly. Any suggestions as to how to attack this as safely as possible?

Hy IHBoilermaker, welcome, if you intend to keep the truck then I would recommend a complete rebuild of the brake system. You already have a leak, so your braking system obviously needs repairs. I would repair or replace everything, master cylinder, wheel cylinders, hydravac, flexible lines and hard lines, and of course turning the drums (if they are not already oversize), and new shoes and linings. Don't forget new return springs and shoe hardware, not a cheap job, but better that you and everyone on the road around you are safe, hope that helps.

Yeah I'm sure all that will come in the future for sure...my main concern right now though is safely removing the rh5 wheels so I can inspect the brakes. Not exactly sure how to handle them. I'm nervous to even loosen the lugnuts or let the pressure out of them.

Letting the pressure out is easy, just remove the valve core, they can't blow if they don't have pressure. Once they are flat, do not reinflate them.

If they are installed on your truck the outer rear wheels are the only ones that can blow apart and send half of the wheel at you. The fronts and inner rears are on backwards and if they blow the rim goes towards the frame and not out into the shop.

Mike B