Locked Up and Sideways

[MikeN]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

I disagree; pulling hard to one side is certainly a problem (I explained why in a previous post).

It's a hydraulic system; a loosely adjusted wheel just means you have to displace more fluid before the shoes all make contact and you start building pressure.

My trucks with good shoes and drums stop well and don't pull to one side.

I'm actually planning to do some 60-0 tests one of these days...

In 98% of normal driving, yes. In a panic stop situation, especially from higher speeds, you better hope your self-adjusters are working well.

JMHO

[66Submarine]

I can't say I've found the adjustment to be that critical (and I don't really see why it would be), but I also don't see any reason to have the adjustment off a bunch to begin with, so I never really ride around like that; way too easy to do it right and not have the brakes come in with the pedal on the floor IMO.

Anyway, even if that was true, wouldn't you just need to replace the adjusters? You said:

Originally Posted by MikeN

Welcome to the wonderful world of drum brakes!!!

It's not only a front vs rear problem. If the shoes aren't adjusted perfectly, the right front can grab harder than the left front, or vice-versa. Once you've driven a modern vehicle, these old drum brake vehicles are an adventure. i don't drive my truck the same way I drive modern vehicles. I never get close behind anyone, and I'm a lot more careful and watchful of other vehicles. My drum brakes function normally...the technology is just not up to modern standards.

My big problem with that is that you are saying "that's as good as it gets", which is just bad info. Someone might read that and go get themselves (and/or others) killed because their brakes were shot and they thought "well, I guess that's as good as it gets".

I stand by my previous statement:

If your brakes pull hard to one side you need to fix them.

BTW, a big X2 on the wider tires! Larger diameter rear tires will also obviously shift the brake bias a little more to the front.

[forestb]

In Hollywood cutting people off is the only way people know how to get over. The only difference is, over here they wouldn't cut you off to make a right hand turn. They would just turn from the left hand lane. One more reason I don't drive my truck to work.

[Kenfuzed]

Originally Posted by forestb

In Hollywood cutting people off is the only way people know how to get over. The only difference is, over here they wouldn't cut you off to make a right hand turn. They would just turn from the left hand lane. One more reason I don't drive my truck to work.

Yup, especially when it comes to that mess they've made of the 5 fwy ("Interstate 5" for the non-Californians) driving into Burbank. I'm not sure what is worse, driving my truck through that area or my motorcycle.

[dfrank]

You think thats bad? I got locked up and sidways I. Our ford f800 class 10 straight truck which ways 14,000 pounds. Not fun though I didn't hit the ass whole who spiked his brakes.

[bloody hammer]

Originally Posted by forestb

In Hollywood cutting people off is the only way people know how to get over. The only difference is, over here they wouldn't cut you off to make a right hand turn. They would just turn from the left hand lane. One more reason I don't drive my truck to work.

This jackass didn't just cut me off to change lanes he cut me off and then slammed on his brakes. He was very close to being a stationary object and I was sliding straight for him.

[LostMy65]

It should be against the law to be a JackAss!

[UticaClub]

I guess I've been lucky. I have power disc brakes up front and drum in the rear. Had to stand on the brake pedal yesterday on the way to work because a light change caught me by surprise and the truck stopped quickly and straight. Still had the stain in the undies feeling though.

[MikeN]

66 Sub, I don't disagree that drum brakes can work OK. In fact, I have them on my 64 C10, which is a daily driver, and I'm comfortable with them. But modern cars have disc brakes for good reason.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by MikeN

66 Sub, I don't disagree that drum brakes can work OK. In fact, I have them on my 64 C10, which is a daily driver, and I'm comfortable with them. But modern cars have disc brakes for good reason.

Yeah, the disk brakes are better about fade resistance, etc. Drum brakes shouldn't pull or take forever to stop, though; that was my point. The way you worded it, someone is likely to think that "My drum brakes function normally...the technology is just not up to modern standards." and potentially get themselves or others killed by riding around with their brakes not working.

My truck I'm driving right now is my '65 C30 (that I also tow with) and my father has put over 100,000 miles on his '66 C10 in the last few years (he drove 100 miles a day for a while). My new '68 Impala is also going to go back on the road with its OE power drum setup soon.

Again, that's not to say that disk brakes aren't better, but the drum brakes should work fine; you need to fix them if they don't. Pulling hard to one side is unacceptable IMO.

[bmur66]

Weren't anti lock brakes originally developed on the rear of pickups? That seems to be the first place I ever heard of them.

[bloody hammer]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

Yeah, the disk brakes are better about fade resistance, etc. Drum brakes shouldn't pull or take forever to stop, though; that was my point. The way you worded it, someone is likely to think that "My drum brakes function normally...the technology is just not up to modern standards." and potentially get themselves or others killed by riding around with their brakes not working.

My truck I'm driving right now is my '65 C30 (that I also tow with) and my father has put over 100,000 miles on his '66 C10 in the last few years (he drove 100 miles a day for a while). My new '68 Impala is also going to go back on the road with its OE power drum setup soon.

Again, that's not to say that disk brakes aren't better, but the drum brakes should work fine; you need to fix them if they don't. Pulling hard to one side is unacceptable IMO.

There's no doubt about it... I need to do some brake work. I knew they were pulling to the right but it wasn't overly concerning until I had to lock them up at about 50 MPH... and now it is overly concerning. I acknowledge it was a bit foolish on my part but I've never been accused of being all that bright.

a complete brake overall is next on my list.

For now... I'm sticking to just puttering around the neighborhood.

[MikeN]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

My big problem with that is that you are saying "that's as good as it gets", which is just bad info. Someone might read that and go get themselves (and/or others) killed because their brakes were shot and they thought "well, I guess that's as good as it gets".

My big problem with that is that I never said what you're saying I said. I clearly said "if not adjusted properly." Implying that I'll get someone killed because I supposedly said or implied "that's as good as it gets" is ridiculous.

Fade resistance is NOT the only advantage to disc brakes. They stop better (more swept area), they are more reliable, and they are easier to maintain.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by MikeN

My big problem with that is that I never said what you're saying I said. I clearly said "if not adjusted properly." Implying that I'll get someone killed because I supposedly said or implied "that's as good as it gets" is ridiculous.

Fade resistance is NOT the only advantage to disc brakes. They stop better (more swept area), they are more reliable, and they are easier to maintain.

Look, I'm not trying to start a fight. Your original post said:

Originally Posted by MikeN

Welcome to the wonderful world of drum brakes!!!

It's not only a front vs rear problem. If the shoes aren't adjusted perfectly, the right front can grab harder than the left front, or vice-versa. Once you've driven a modern vehicle, these old drum brake vehicles are an adventure. i don't drive my truck the same way I drive modern vehicles. I never get close behind anyone, and I'm a lot more careful and watchful of other vehicles. My drum brakes function normally...the technology is just not up to modern standards.

The way you worded that, it comes off as saying not working worth a damn is normal--not to say you intended for it to come off that way, but it does IMO.

Again, I'm not in any way saying disk brakes aren't better, or that I am somehow against them.

Lots of extremely inexperienced people read this forum, and someone reading posts like that might be inclined to think that unacceptable braking is normal and drive the truck like that. After all, they are just driving it until they get that new tube chassis they saw in that magazine...

It costs very little to totally go through the OE drum brake system and make it work like it should, so I really see no excuse not to if you have any issues at all.

I'm not coming after you or anything, really. Sorry if it seemed that way.

[mMad Dawg]

There is one thing that hasn't been mentioned in this post. You need your brakes properly adjusted ,yes. But your wheel cylinders have to be working freely. Thats why it is recommended that if you overhaul one side or replace one wheel cylinder,you also replace the other side. I one side is sluggish it will work slower than the other side. Thats also why it will pul to one side or yhe other. Just the opinion of an old mechanic who used to work on these trucks when thy were newer.

[bloody hammer]

Originally Posted by mMad Dawg

There is one thing that hasn't been mentioned in this post. You need your brakes properly adjusted ,yes. But your wheel cylinders have to be working freely. Thats why it is recommended that if you overhaul one side or replace one wheel cylinder,you also replace the other side. I one side is sluggish it will work slower than the other side. Thats also why it will pul to one side or yhe other. Just the opinion of an old mechanic who used to work on these trucks when thy were newer.

Yep, new wheel cylinders are going to be part of the brake job. It would be goofy not to since I'll be in there anyhow.

I'm hoping the drums are in good shape and at the most just need to be turned.

Any advice on a source for good quality brake shoes? I'd just as soon not use the AutoZone stuff.

[66Submarine]

Yeah, I never try to reuse wheel cylinders without rebuilding them. Pretty sure the pulling would have been caused by the difference in the new shoe material/contact area, though (that's what it is IME). I have had several that were seized solid from sitting, but I'd have to think that one that was just sticky enough to actually cause it to pull would also not release and drag.

I buy stuff from Rockauto.com. They also have new drums for $24-36 each, FWIW.

Go ahead and repack (or replace, if needed) your front wheel bearings while you're at it, and you should also replace the 50-year-old brake hoses if you aren't already planning on it.