Front Brake

[lowrider91]

Hey guys, I am having a problem with my front manual drum brakes. I flushed out all the old fluid and added new. The boot was torn so I made one from the gasket material from parts store. (no one stocks the boot) The pedal was spongy and worked fine. The more I use the brake the harder the pedal gets locking the front brakes. I have to keep bleeding them. Should I replace master cylinder or is it the home made gasket? Thanks in advance, Jim

[SASSY]

Did it do that before you made the boot?
I think you need to clean the master
probably a partly plugged port.
Fred

[lowrider91]

Fred, I never drove the car before I blead out the lines. The car sat for 36 years. There was a lot of junk in the bottom of the bowl. I cleaned it out before I blead the system. I filled bowl with fresh fluid and continued until clean fluid came out the bleaders. When I blead them they seem to flow fine. Drive for a while then they lock up. Front's only. Thanks, Jim

[lowrider91]

Could it be the wheel cylinders locking up? Thanks, Jim

[SASSY]

If the wheel cylinders were stuck you'd think they would leak?
And when you bleed them they release,, must be something like a crushed
line to the front wheels or something in the line to stop the return of fluid.
Brum brakes sort of rachet into operation with very little applied pressure
You'll probably end up disassembling the wheel cyl's and blowing out the lines
from the master down. It is justa single jar master right?
Fred

[lowrider91]

Just a single. Jim

[SASSY]

Well,,,,,,,, when ya figure it out ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I'd be interested to hear about it!
Fred

[CALIFORNIA CALIENTE]

Jim;it sounds to me like your wheel cylinders may be pitted and causing the pistons to hang up or you may need to replace all the return springs,or all of the above. JMO,ROY.

[COMET KID]

if you have one side of the brake wheel cylinder then one shoe will go forward twice the distance as the other one will not move.. this will cause the brakes to lock when applied.. my friend just had this problem as one wheel cylinder was doing this.. and these were new cylinders( BRAND NEW) .. now it is ok.. he changed the side that was pulling... when he took the brake drums off ... He SLOWLY applied the brakes.. and seen this happening.. check it out.. without the drums on.. they should push both shoes outward.. (APPLY BRAKES ALITTLE) and watch if they release and come back