seems like more than half of all the old trucks that have sat for any length of time need to have brake work done before they can be driven and I always have wondered what specifically is it that goes bad? Wheel or master cylinders or both? It is moisture that gets absorbed by brake fluid that causes this? Or is it just that the entire brake assemblies just get too corroded and gunked up by years of old dirt?

Anyway, have often wondered if I should look past this common point of failure and dive into one of these rigs? (like I need any more project trucks!)

 

Its both moisture and things corrode over time if not used. Also I think that a higher number of larger truck are merely parked in the dirt areas where there is more ground moisture than compared to a concrete driveway.

do what I did (almost by accident). I bought a F-700 that had a sat for a a few years. It has air brakes and they work like new. They have no fluid to gather moisture and the drums are much more open and dry.

 

Sitting allows even a little water to rust the bores of the wheel cylinders enough to tear or wear the seals. Happened to our farm trucks in Washington state more than once.

It's a bear to do brakes. My dad would pull the axle shaft and take the whole hub/drum/duals off as one. You got right to the brakes that way, but don't let those duals fall over on you.....