Brake problems

[Eric Fuess]

Anyone know what could be keeping the front brakes from working if I just replaced the pads, adjusting cables (one was broken) I cleaned everything and inspected everything. repleced and bled the master then the wheels farthest first. The only thing I didnt check was the proportioning valve could that be it the rear work.

[Faithful Old Road Dog]

Did you adjust them? No leaks at the lines or cylinders, right? Did you grease up the threads on the star adjusters before you installed them?

[FORDification]

I doubt it's the proportioning valve. (I'm assuming your truck has disc brakes, since drum-brake setups don't use a proportioning valve, just a distribution block.) Those rarely go bad. And you say you DID bench-bleed the MC? I'd then venture a guess that you simply still have some air in the front lines that didn't get out during the first bleeding.

If your truck has front drums, then I'd make sure (as F.O.R.D. mentioned) that the fronts are properly adjusted. (Just drive around a parking lot in reverse and just keep hitting the brakes. )

[Eric Fuess]

Yes drums all the way around. reverse and slam on the brakes? what will that do? . There is a little light bulb on the lower left of the dash that is broken . What is it for ? And yes it was bled .

[Eric Fuess]

what is the proper procedure for adjusting them?

[FORDification]

Well, the PROPER way is to use a special tool (Rotunda Tool HRE 8650) to measure the inside diameter of the drum, and then use the same tool to measure and set the brake shoes (with the drum off) to about the same diameter. Since nobody but a factory tech has that tool, most people just adjust the adjusting wheel in until the wheel won't spin, and then back it off about 10 clicks on the adjuster....and then fine-tune it by hitting the brakes several times while going in reverse. That's how the auto-adjusters work...a reverse rotation on the drum puts pressure on the auto-adjuster when the brakes are applied. That's how it compensates for brake shoe wear.

[Eric Fuess]

Thanks Keith you may have saved me 1000 bucks . I was so stumped I was talking to myself and had it at a mechanics who allmost convinced me to let him redo my work and replace things that are still good . I am going to try to get one of those factory behind the seat stowage compartments. I saw one 2 months ago at a junkyard and thought it was cool then I read the gas tank section and they mentioned them as sought after. Thenks again