Anyone have trouble braking in winter conditions?

[kelsfine69]

My 87 likes to lock up the fronts and the rears don't lock up unless you really get on the breaks. It is only noticeable in the winter. In the summer everything is fine. Does anyone else have this problem? I think it might be the way it is but driving some fairly new vehicles over the years its a driving experience. I know the front brakes are good and I replaced the backs with new everything( shoes,cylinders,drums) in the spring and still the same. The old throw it in neutral trick stops better. It doesnt have a high idle or anything either??

[Doug_J]

well simple enough turn that wheel sorry but cant remeber what its called but looks i guess like a spur you should have a little notch cut out of your drum, take a regular screw driver and turn it till you feel a slight drag on the drum.

[rjn72]

Also, might possibly have water in brake line going to the back that is freezing. Not likely, but a suggestion.

[vtwinsport]

flush and bleed em. Just did that with mine- fixed the braking just fine. Might need a new proportioning valve but I doubt it.
Master cylinder could be leaking from primary to secondary causing some weakness in the system as a last resort.

[kelsfine69]

Brakes blead in the spring and they do grab but just not enought to lock up. I'm think its just the way the brakes were in the 80's. I know when I drive it cold it likes to "push" the front wheels and as soon as it is thrown in neutral it stops much faster.

[babyJay]

There's not enough air in the front lines, you need to crack bleeders open and get a few bubbles in there. J/K It sounds like your adjustments are not right in the back. Find a parking lot and back up doing about 15/20 and slam on the brakes a few times and see if it helps. If you take the back brakes apart, grease up the threads on the adjusters with some anti-seize.

[kelsfine69]

Yup did all that, Buffed everything in the back. Ajusters are all nice and free, light drag on the drums. Brand new shoes/drums and even the wheel cylinders are new. Flushed with fresh fluid too. If I hard stop in the hardpack snow they will all lock up but the fronts lock up first.