I have a '79 f150 300I 6 2wd with power brakes and I have been having a slight problem with my brakes if you would actually call it a problem. when I got to brake in this truck the brakes are real touchy and it does not take much at all to lock the wheels up. I know most people have a problem with weak brakes well mine are very touchy. I replaced the calipers on the front and cylinders on the rear, new brakes all the way around, new brake hardware which included the self adjusters, the brake hoses on the front and they are bled as well. Can't seem to figure out why they are just so touchy. Not a problem for me because I know how to use them just when someone else drives it they might throw themselves through the windshield if they treat them like normal brakes.

Also I have all the new hardware to put a tailgate on this truck and the only thing I lack is the tailgate latch linking rod. I have tried to find this item everywhere and have had no luck and was hoping to find one rather then build one. I would check the junkyards around here but the last one closed down last year and all the ones I have called told me they did not have any trucks that old. I would use the one out of the old tailgate as everyone keeps telling me to do but I never got the tailgate with the truck and the previous owner took it to the landfill before I got the truck. Any Ideas?


Matt
'79 F150 Custom

 

Does it lock the front or the rear - usually it's one or the other. Take it to a gravel parking lot or road and coast a little, then hit the brakes to see which wheel slides. Let us know what you find, that will narrow it down a lot.

Marty

 

From what I can tell when I do that it is the right front tire that wants to lock up. I may have to convince one of my friends to get out of the truck and tell me what tire is locking and should get around to that on saturday when I get some time. the locking up is not really that bad because you have to put the pedal about where it would normally be for your tires to lock up but it does not take much force to move the pedal in that position so you kinda have to lightly apply the brakes. The pedal does not go down to the floor I just can't think of how to explain kinda like it does not resist when you push the pedal in and is real easy to push the pedal. I thought maybe it was a vacuum problem. and after replacing everything including drums and rotors except the booster, master cylinder and valve it would act normal but still the same. At least I can say they work really good and almost everything is new right?.

I will let you know which tire locks on saturday though.

Matt