Well, I pretty much just had to bleed the brakes to finish this project, and was getting excited to start driving the truck again. I started bleeding the other night, and found the two front calipers were leaking badly around the banjo bolts, the rear drum brakes were bleeding OK. So I grabbed a long wrench and tightened up the banjo bolt *real* tight. Still leaking, and to make matters worse I stripped threads on the bolt! Grrr...
So I did some calling around and can't find anyone that has any of these bolts? That suprised me, if Autozone and Checkers carries calipers you would think that they would carry the banjo bolts. I need some help how to get a new one, can't even see any vendors that have them, or the copper washers...
Another odd thing I noticed after taking out this damaged bolt, was that the brake hoses are labeled LH and RH. As it stands right now, I have them hooked up backwards (LH hose on right caliper). I hooked them up mimicking another vehicle, so I didn't think it mattered left or right. Is this part of why it was leaking as well? I thought it was just the copper washers weren't seated all the way, that's why I tightened the bolt so much. I guess I really need to learn how to properly hook everything up. Do you have to line up the hole in the banjo bolt with the hole in the brake hose as well? In all the reading I had done prior to starting this conversion, I don't remember reading anywhere about proper brake hose/caliper assembly.
This is on a 1972 CST/20 2wd, using 72 front end parts. I think the 72 had the brake hose mount towards the front of the crossmember, my stock 70 crossmember has them at the back, behind the A arms - this is why I have my hoses installed at opposite locations.
10-16-2005, 09:28 PM
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