Finally caught a Brake on the old C 50

[South Florida C50]

Just got home and showered up from my weekly 200 mile pilgrimage to Fort Pierce and back. Today was a good day, I drove up this morning at the butt crack of dawn to start wrenching on my trucks brakes, only to my pleasant surprise, they had just been done by the previous owner. $$$ the pads were so new that you could still see the gold on the rivets holding them on. The heavy drums have barely even been turned down and there were no bad gouges or scrapes. The wheel bearings and grease seals all looked brand new also. I truly expected to find every wheel cylinder leaking, the pads worn down to the rivets, and the drums scared beyond repair. I was so happy to see all the wheels were in great shape. I loaded the drums on to my trailer and hauled them back so I can sand blast them and repaint them. I had some extra daylight to burn today not having to spend the whole day on the brakes so I decided to install a new set of front shocks and swap out some air brake hoses that were pretty worn. I been driving 100 miles each way once a week for almost 4 months now and today was the easiest day the old C 50 has given me since I bought her.

[colgad]

That is great news! My C50 had a wheel cylinder on the top and the bottom of the backing plate. You really made out!

[South Florida C50]

The rear had two, one at the top and bottom, but the front only had a single at the top. Maybe it has something to do with a heavier duty front end option that you had on yours, because your front drums were also using the full ten lugs? Or was this a natural progression from 1969-1972?

[colgad]

Hard to say, just glad yours were in good shape.

My 72's were bad from front to rear. I had to replace everything. It had the 2nd master and the booster under the cab unlike my 67 which was on the firewall. I could never get a really good petal after replacing all the parts. What I should have done was replace the single master with a dual and junk the one under the cab like I did on my current 67.
Whats the next step with your project?

[South Florida C50]

I'm going back up there next Sunday to put the freshly painted drums back on, grease up the front wheel bearings, change the rear end oil...etc. I want to get it off the jack stands and back on the tires. I did a little work on some air brake hoses under the truck with it up on the jack stands and I just couldn't relax under the truck. I've seen too many videos on the web and too many news reports about how quickly things can go from OK to holy S**T! After I finish the brakes it's on to moving the rear end up and shortening the frame for the fleet side bed. I've been putting it off because it's going to be a really hard job, but after my Easter weekend break, it's time to roll up my sleeves and get started. I figure that will be a 2-3 Saturday job. I've got to remove 3 drive shafts and carrier bearings, shorten the rear brake lines and rear 2 speed rear end steel lines and hoses, then get 1 drive shaft custom made out of the parts from the other three. Cut out and remove about 30 rivets and replace them with grade 8 hardware. Drill all new holes for the leaf spring hangers and remount them about 5 feet forward of where they are right now. Wow, I'm already tired just typing about it.
I have documented every thing that I've done with my GoPro since I've had the truck so I'll post some pics after Easter when I start shortening up the truck.

[colgad]

I feel for you drilling all those holes, better buy the best drills you can afford. I won't try to talk you into cutting the frame but thats a drilling small then medium then large. Make sure you have a good drill with a handle.

[South Florida C50]

No worries Dave, my drills got 2 handles on it!

[colgad]

Yea, thats what I was thinking about. Now I can sleep knowing you have the right tools. :-)