Brakes? What brakes?

[PRattenbury]

I bought my truck last winter. It sat in the garage until a few weeks ago when I got it running again. I've had a few catastrophes like fuel leaks, tranny going out, getting screwed by a 'service center' for some front end work... but anyway, water under the bridge. At last, I drove the truck back and forth to work for two weeks. It was pretty plain I had brake issues, but the truck would stop, and it had some pedal, so I thought what the hell. Anyway, I did not get the key for the locking lug nuts when I got the truck. I'm sure I've mentioned this before. I got the lugs off finally and set about doing the front brakes. I got new rotors, bearings, grease seals, and pads. I had rotor warpage for sure, and I'm thinking I was hearing a bearing starting to howl on the passenger side. So I started on the left front. I got the rotor part done just fine. I got a laugh out of the box the rotor came in. It was made in China, and sent to Mexico. And somehow it made it to Arkansas. Amazing. Anyway, I went to compress the caliper so I could get it back on with the new pads. I opened up the master cylinder cover. No juice in the rear brake compartment. No rear brakes, I gather. Not surprised. They don't do much of the overall stopping anyway. I put a c-clamp on the caliper and start trying to compress. No go. So I open up the bleeder and try again. It compresses. So I gather I had a bad hose on the left front. No juice going there. So no rear brakes, and no left front. That explains the pulling to the right when I hit the brakes. I got the left side back together, but I know it has the bad hose. I'll do the passenger side tomorrow, get it back together, and then pull the rears and see why I have no brakes back there. Then I'll go to the store and get the hose for the left front and whatever else I need for the rears. But what a horror show this thing is. Brakes on one wheel! Uh, with a warped rotor and bad bearing...

[irishman999]

I just did my brakes a while ago too, those rear wheel cylinders are only 10 bucks a piece, replace all that crap!

[C10Silverado79]

When I got my 79 in Feb. I decided it was not worth trusting 30 y/o brake hoses and parts. I replaced all 3 rubber hoses, rotors, calipers wheel cylinders, pads and shoes, and front wheel bearings. The only piece I didn't replace was the master cylinder. My thinks is do it right the first time so you don't have to do it again.

[irishman999]

Why didn't you buy a new master cylinder?

[87chevy.com]

when you buy calipers, you buy them in pairs, when you buy hoses, you buy all 3. both fronts and the rear... do the job once and be done with it..
clint

[primrrd]

agreed...
I had a hose fail, lock up the front and smoke a rotor too...
-
I bought new rotors, new seals, new bearings, rebuilt calipers, pads, and hoses for under 230.00 at the Zone!
since I was on a roll, I bought wheel cyls, shoes, and a new rear hose the next weekend for about 100.00
(in the process i found that a wrecker had once upon a time pinched the line up front and rear brakes really werent working at all!)
*
moral of the story? Its cheap and safe to replace it all and roll with some confidence in your 30 year old truck!

[PRattenbury]

I agree with replacing parts in pairs. When I replace the hose on the left, the right will get replaced as well. I also like the idea of just ripping out the brakes and replacing everything. But I am not as wealthy as I once was, and can't afford to just drop a load of money like that unless I have to. Same with steering. So I am inspecting and replacing (in pairs) as necessary. The brakes aren't really 30 years old. They've been serviced at various different points in the life of the truck. More fun to come today!!!

[C10Silverado79]

Originally Posted by irishman999

Why didn't you buy a new master cylinder?

Cash flow at the time and the MC was and still is working fine.

[PRattenbury]

Welp, I went and got hoses and calipers for the front. All new brakes up front. Then I'll check the rears and see what's going on back there...