Them's the brakes

[rogerh]

You obviously understand the situation and will get er done right.

[Faulkner]

Drat... When we visited Ed Ober, he mentioned a little bleeder valve that you put in line with the drain tube for the wheel cylinder. Couldn't find one to save my life... Well, that's what wives are for! I installed the cylinder, and Marie manned the brake pedal while I opened and closed the bleeder valve. Man! Is it hard to get fluid in the master brake cylinder with the booster in the way. But with a funnel and a piece of tube, I managed to spill only half a bottle on the plastic floor mat. (Thanks again, Dick )

Cleaned up everything real good again with brake cleaner, slapped the drum back on, adjusted, and took Faulkner for a spin. Not a peep, and he stops on a dime. Guess I'll keep these brakes for a while -- I'm in no hurry to do rotors now.

...and in two weeks, I'll be tearing a (web)page from Ron Keij's book -- I'll be driving my son and his bride-to-be to their wedding in Faulkner! Can't afford to have bad brakes for that.

Dan

[Faulkner]

...and in two weeks, I'll be tearing a (web)page from Ron Keij's book -- I'll be driving my son and his bride-to-be to their wedding in Faulkner! Can't afford to have bad brakes for that.

Well, today's the wedding day. Yesterday I took Faulkner for a ride to get gassed up. There was a car in front, so I backed up -- then, put it in drive. The same brake locking!!!

Now, I wonder if enough brake fluid soaked into the lining that sanding with emory paper isn't enough; and that I need to replace the shoes. I think that's my next step anyway. I'm wondering too if backing up tilted the shoes in a different position that caused them to lock when moving forward; perhaps adjusted too tight? I dunno, it breaks free once you get moving. But I'll get the attention of a lot of wedding guests today, I bet!

Dan

[rogerh]

ugh, Dan. Who needs complications on such an important day..
I dont know about the emory paper treatment. Were I you, I'd get a can of BrakeKleen (or similar) areosol and enpty the can on those shoes and drum.
I was told years ago that the BEST thing you can do to make these brakes work properly is to take the drum and a new pair of brakes shoes to a quality brake shop and have the drum "turned" and the shoes "shaped to fit that drum. THis is what I had done for my car's front wheels anyway...
THere is also the possibility that the shoes are worn down enough that the brake cylinder piston has to travel further to effect braking, then doesnt want to retract.
Just speculating.
I hope the wedding goes great!

[eddie.gordou]

Hey Dan,

I hope everything worked fine today and your son had a great wedding!

I don't know if I understood your problem and no doubt you've more experience with the car, but I can remember that we've had problems with the brakes, too. My dad used to drive backwards for about a mile or so, when he pulled the car out of the garage in springtime.

If he was trying to drive normally, the brakes blocked. So he drove backwards and grinded the brakes until they didn't block any more. Since last year I don't have this problem any more, because I ordered a new pair of brake tubes from the US. The old ones have been somehow clogged. Now the brakes are working fine!
But I don't think that your problem is that simple...

Have a nice day!

[Faulkner]

I managed to avoid backing up all day. Faulkner performed admirably -- no squeals! Here's a couple pix -- Nate's blindfolded in the back seat, since he and Samantha got dressed in the same place. It wouldn't do for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony!

Dan

[eddie.gordou]

Great pictures!

[Dick Koch]

Great pictures Dan, your car looks great. About three years ago I trailered by Red 59 to New Orleans for my nieces wedding and Cruising the coast car show on the gulf coast of Mississippi, Great show. Anyway we used the 59 to go from the church to the reception, she had a rather full wedding dress and even though she is nice and trim it was a real ordeal to them both in the back seat, I thought they would never get out.
Did you have much trouble. Next wedding I do I will use my 60 Desoto, its's a 4 door.
Dick.

[sportfury1959]

Dan,

Yes, great pictures. Remain the questions –
- why does the bride sit in the front seat and not in the backseat and
- why does the young man wear a blindfold and
- is that all or does he also wear handcuffs?

[Faulkner]

Dan,

Yes, great pictures. Remain the questions –
- why does the bride sit in the front seat and not in the backseat and
- why does the young man wear a blindfold and
- is that all or does he also wear handcuffs?

This reminds me of two well-worn toasts given at wedding receptions:

"That ring around his finger may not be as tight as a tourniquet, but it sure has cut off his circulation!"

"He thinks the ring is on his finger, but it's actually through his nose!"

Dan