79 brakes
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Trailering
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: canada
79 brakes
I have a 79 150 with 36" tires. It has very poor brakes in that it would not lock up the tires in a panic stop front or rear. The pads and shoes are new (even changed again for a differnt brand) and the rotors and drums were turned and are in spec. How do I add more power to my power brakes?
New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22
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From: Houston USA
79 brakes
Did you bleed the brakes?
I have 74 F100 with "leg power" brakes.
I locked them up today on dry asphault cause some impatient @$$ pulled out right in front of me. First time I locked them up. May have been the adrenaline
I have 74 F100 with "leg power" brakes.
I locked them up today on dry asphault cause some impatient @$$ pulled out right in front of me. First time I locked them up. May have been the adrenaline
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 406
Likes: 1
From: cedar rapids usa
79 brakes
Remember that when install the rear drums the brake shoes should make contact with them. The shoes should be out far enough that you have to use force to put the drums on, but not so tight that you have to use a hammer to get them to sit. After installing the shoes like above take it out for a test stop. If you still can't lock them up jack up the back, and while turning the tires by hand, adjust the brakes out till the you can't spin the tire freely with a singal hand (in other words you can turn the tire but not without using umph). Drive it again applying the breaks a few times, and then check and see if you still cant turn the tire. If it's stiff you might want to back the breaks off just a hair.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 106
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From: Blountsville USA
79 brakes
Are you sure sure the brake booster is good? I have a 1975 F-100 with 33" tires that had the same problem. It would not lock up the tires at all. My friend was making a racetruck out of his 1991 GMC Syclone and had a lot of stock parts he wanted to sell off of it. I bought the steering box, brake booster, and master cylinder from him. I installed all of it on my '75 and it all worked very well. I can lock all 4 wheels up on pavement easily. I think the booster on my truck was bad because everything else in the brake system had been replaced including all the brake lines (metal and rubber). On the downside to this swap, the brakes are a little touchy at slow speeds. If you have replaced everything on the hydraulic system and know for sure the booster is good, you might can find a different booster/master cylinder combo that might give you more pressure to the wheels. You can also install a pressure gauge to check the line pressure. I'll have to check my brake book for recommended pressures, but you probably need at least 600 psi, if not 800 or 1000. Hope this helps.:-)
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 154
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From: Joliet USA
79 brakes
I have a 79 F250 with 39's on the and had the exact same problems. I swapped out the old brake lines for some fatter steel braided ones and that helped dramatically.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 133
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79 brakes
Like Wayne said: To adjust the rear brakes(drums)if you don't have self-adjusters, take the star wheel adjuster wrench and tighten the shoes until they lock the drum. Then loosen the shoes by turning the star wheel 10 times adjuster wrench.
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 25
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79 brakes
I have a 79 with 35" tires on 15-10 aluminum wheels and have the same problem. I do have self adjusters and all that has done is take some play out of the pedal.My truck gets very few miles put on it and sometimes may sit for long periods of time. I don't know if this has something to do with it.
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