Brakes Grabbing

[SCdigger]

Hey guys,

Let me first say, I'm no mechanic, but I play one with my '72 C10.

The manual brakes on my C10 have always been sensitive...but after sitting for a while, I finally got the old girl out and found the just going down the driveway, just light pressure on the brake pedal caused me to bark the tires.

Just picking your brains here for ideas and suggestions...is there anything to be done to the current brake system to make the safer, or just repair...

OR

Can the brake system be replaced, maybe with an upgraded brake system, and what would that entail?

Thanks for any replies...it's been quite some time since I've been on.

Greg

[stsalvage]

well by the looks of the 1971--72 grill you have disc brakes. Not much more you can do.Now if you don't drive it much.rust dose get on to the rotors do to there cast iron and cast iron rust.And it takes 3-5 miles to brake the rust off so the brakes can grab firm.Now if you don't have power brakes get the bracket and the booster and your in love with your truck.

Remember to check your brake fluid every time you want to drive your truck look under the truck at the front tires and rear tires to see if any brakes are leaking.

If you don't drive it much i would keep a close eye on your rear wheel cylinder they can tend to leak if you don't stay on top of it.

Now if your drive this truck at least 500 miles a week i do a full on visual of every thing but every time you go out to start this baby up check all fluid in every thing.I have 12 of these things and its like a full time job.I think of them as my kids.So best thing to do is get into a truck club that guys drive these kinda trucks and they will more then ever help you keep your on the road safely

[pat 70/71]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

well by the looks of the 1971--72 grill you have disc brakes. Not much more you can do.Now if you don't drive it much.rust dose get on to the rotors do to there cast iron and cast iron rust.And it takes 3-5 miles to brake the rust off so the brakes can grab firm.Now if you don't have power brakes get the bracket and the booster and your in love with your truck.

Remember to check your brake fluid every time you want to drive your truck look under the truck at the front tires and rear tires to see if any brakes are leaking.

If you don't drive it much i would keep a close eye on your rear wheel cylinder they can tend to leak if you don't stay on top of it.

Now if your drive this truck at least 500 miles a week i do a full on visual of every thing but every time you go out to start this baby up check all fluid in every thing.I have 12 of these things and its like a full time job.I think of them as my kids.So best thing to do is get into a truck club that guys drive these kinda trucks and they will more then ever help you keep your on the road safely

Twelve trucks? Man I have three hotrods and its all i can do keep them clean/maintained. Oh yeah, brakes, check your fluid &make sure she has brake pressure at the pedal and if so drive and pump the brakes if it doesn't crab or lock up after a couple of miles your good to go! cheers, Pat

[chevytruckluver]

Originally Posted by SCdigger

Hey guys,

Let me first say, I'm no mechanic, but I play one with my '72 C10.

The manual brakes on my C10 have always been sensitive...but after sitting for a while, I finally got the old girl out and found the just going down the driveway, just light pressure on the brake pedal caused me to bark the tires.

Just picking your brains here for ideas and suggestions...is there anything to be done to the current brake system to make the safer, or just repair...

OR

Can the brake system be replaced, maybe with an upgraded brake system, and what would that entail?


Thanks for any replies...it's been quite some time since I've been on.

Greg

Welcome from Texas, Nice looking truck you have there, dont wreck it because you have a brake failure
I am guessing that the rear are the ones locking up? be sure to check for any fluid on the rear shoes. If you have a wheel cylinder leak it could get on the shoes and cause the brakes to lock up, same thing if you have a rear axle seal leaking inside the drum. I would pull the rear drums off and look to see if there is anything on the shoes. As mentioned above upgrade to power brakes is a major improvement.
This forum is the best place to ge help along the way with any thing you want to do to your truck.