[palallin]

OK, well today went reasonably well. I managed to replace both wheel cylinders and front hoses. Those old hoses were in bad shape, and I doubt much fluid was moving in them.

Replacing the wheel cylinders requires removing the hubs, so the outer bearings got a cleanup and regreasing, and the engagement gears were all inspected and reset.

Replacing the hoses ended up requiring the removal of the hard lines and the junction block inside the frame on the driver's side--what a pain in the rump.

Take my advice: if you ever have your front clip off or the engine out--or, better yet, both--replace those hoses! It would be a LOT easier to do unimpeded by such inconvenient parts as the power steering pump, the fuel pump (I had to disconnect the fuel line), and so forth!

Your hoses probably need replaced anyway. Mine sure did.

TOMORROW: actually fitting the brake shoes and attendant hardware and, I hope, the new master cylinder.