1965 C10 LWB Project Build Thread

[JohnIL]

I forgot to label my previous update as "Part 4". But, anyway, this is Part 5.

The bake system is all back together and the brakes are working. Sort of. At this point, I think I'm chasing air bubbles. The brakes stop the truck, but not well. The pedal is soft and it goes to the floor.

I started by gravity bleeding the whole system. Fluid started coming out the front bleeders in just a few minutes. But, I left the rears open for several hours and fluid never did come out. That led me to think there must be something going on with the combination valve. I thought maybe the internal shuttle was tripped and was cutting off fluid to the rears. I removed the combination valve and verified with air that it is flowing to both the front and rear.

Then I thought, OK, maybe there is just an air pocket somewhere in the line. After all, it runs downhill to the frame, back to the rear, then back up over the rear pumpkin. So, I connected a Bleed-O-Matic gizmo to one of the rear bleeders and gave the brake pedal 10 pumps. A hah! There was brake fluid at the bleeder. After 10 more pumps, I had a stream of fluid, but there were still bubbles.

At this point, I recruited my wife to help so I could keep an eye on what was happening at the bleeder. You know the routine. Pump the brakes, hold the pedal, crack the bleeder, repeat. After three repetitions at each corner, The brakes are actuating, but the pedal is WAY too soft.

I have a reverse bleeder kit on order. While I wait for it to arrive, we may try bleeding it a couple more times the "traditional" way. More to come...