Sensitive Brakes?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12
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Sensitive Brakes?
The brakes on my '48 F1 seem very sensitive to me. When pressing the brake pedal, there is not much "give" at all. The pedal feels stiff and hardly moves before the brakes take hold. So when approaching an intersection at 35-40 mph and the traffic light changes to orange, the brakes feel as if they are locking rather than gradually stopping the truck. At my age, I don't need the carnival ride associated with locking brakes! When I was in my teens, I drove old laundry trucks that I believe were International Harvesters made in the early to mid-fifties. I don't remember having to worry about stiff locking brakes when driving those trucks at city speeds. Is there any kind of adjustment that can be made to my F1's brakes to make the pedal more gradually brake the truck to smoother stops? Thanks!
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 576
Likes: 9
From: Rockford, IL
Well, it seems to me that you could have one of two problems. Most likely is that you need to adjust the brakes with the adjuster inside the drums. I'm sure you know how to do this but in case you don't, there is a slot on the backing plate on the back side of the drum. Stick a flathead screwdriver in there and turn the star. If you remove the drum you can at least see what I'm talking about and get a feel for which way you need to turn the adjuster. I guess if you are backing off the adjuster you might be able to do it with the drum off. Anyway, do this a little at a time and give the wheel a good spin. it should drag slightly but still be able to turn a time or two around before stopping. The second problem, this one happened to me, is maybe your return spring on one side broke and only one wheel is locking up. But I don't think that would cause an overly stiff pedal. Good luck Black58
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,005
Likes: 2
From: Santa Clarita
It's hard to say without knowing what is done to the brake system. Is it original, or has someone installed a booster/ master cylinder? There may be a proportioning valve in the line which has gone bad making the brakes more sensitive. I've also heard of the springs in the drum brakes getting weak after time allowing the brake shoes to expand easily. You may want to try and put some new brake return springs on.
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