not a gm but could use some help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**richard2717** · 03-27-2019, 12:25 PM

I have a 96 F800 boom truck that has hydraulic brakes. It has the Lucas Girling rear brake package and I am having difficulty with them. For starters I can't get the brake drum to loosen up enough to remove it for inspection. The inspector is telling me this has happened to him once before and he had to destroy the drum to get it off. With the cost of the parts plus his labor I elected to bring the truck home for now. I was hoping maybe one of you guys have had prior experience with these and could give me some pointers. I am going to attempt to get it removed myself. I just bought the adjuster tool that is supposed to be needed and have watched a couple of you tube videos but still looking for advise

Thanks
Richard

**Bob B.** · 03-28-2019, 04:28 PM

Lucas-Girling brakes are tricky. Are the drums hanging up on the shoes? Could be the drums are worn out. Back the adjusters all the way, and make sure the parking brake is fully off. Might help to the cage the parking brake springs. One of the many problems Luas-Girling brakes had was the hydraulic spring parking brakes not fully releasing. You might want to get the service manual for that truck. These brakes are not 'do-it-yourself' friendly, be careful and seek professional assistance if you are not sure of what you are doing. There was a guy with a Lucas-Girling F-700 on one of the Ford Truck forums a while back that screwed something up and lost his truck down a hill. Tree pretty much totaled it, probably a good thing all considered!

If you have a chance, my advice would be to get rid of this truck and find a good TopKick/Kodiak or International (without a MaxForce engine).

**richard2717** · 03-28-2019, 05:24 PM

Bob,
I am unsure of the actual issue as I have not gotten it in the shop yet. I am going by what the state inspector told me when I went to pick it up. He is telling me that he broke his adjuster tool trying to back the brakes off and can just barely turn the drum by hand it is so tight. I suspect the brake may be partially stuck on. The truck only has 85k miles on it and I suspect the lack of use may be playing in to this somewhat. My bucket truck is the same cab & chassis with 252K on it and not had this issue. FOr what I paid for the truck I don't mind spending some money on it but I got the feeling he did not want to mess with it. I am hoping to be able to get the drum off without tearing up the backing plate since it is not leaking and the shoes look ok from the back side view. That all may change once I get the drum off. Heres to hoping I can get the drum off and figure out why it is hanging up. I know it won't be simple or cheap because I own it. lol

Richard

**richard2717** · 03-28-2019, 05:25 PM

And I do have the service manual

**Bob B.** · 03-28-2019, 08:18 PM

The adjusters can be very difficult to turn on those. Also, access can be a problem if the slots are close to the leaf springs. If you have it up on jacks, try releasing the parking brakes with the engine running and see if the drums turn freely. Good you didn't pay much for the truck, you have some 'room' money-wise to fix it.

03-27-2019, 12:25 PM	#1
richard2717 Equal opportunity joke ofender Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Eastern Shore of MD Posts: 9,888	not a gm but could use some help I have a 96 F800 boom truck that has hydraulic brakes. It has the Lucas Girling rear brake package and I am having difficulty with them. For starters I can't get the brake drum to loosen up enough to remove it for inspection. The inspector is telling me this has happened to him once before and he had to destroy the drum to get it off. With the cost of the parts plus his labor I elected to bring the truck home for now. I was hoping maybe one of you guys have had prior experience with these and could give me some pointers. I am going to attempt to get it removed myself. I just bought the adjuster tool that is supposed to be needed and have watched a couple of you tube videos but still looking for advise Thanks Richard __________________ Members I have met. Dually Jams, OlBlue60, ScottH, Tommyboy24, Dujobo, Warbucket, 2003 Silverado, Notsolo, my90k5, 6t727t2, Special-K ,Jack_71C10, tabarcus,72blazer_mud_bogger,pwdcougar,RSavage,EricSean,1Rippen6,invicta455,tennaragtop71,arks, Kendal,Bennett68C10, Perpendicular, Chainsawman, McGeesCustomMinis,ShortbedClayton,longblue72,6768chevylover,Tim71,Travisarmenta,Ol' Drippy,fleetmitch,georgieb51,Dave,bcnya2,Dadsburb https://paypal.me/6772GMtruckparts Most women like the strong, silent type… Fortunately for me, my wife prefers the out-of-shape, mouthy type.

03-28-2019, 04:28 PM	#2
Bob B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,309	Re: not a gm but could use some help Lucas-Girling brakes are tricky. Are the drums hanging up on the shoes? Could be the drums are worn out. Back the adjusters all the way, and make sure the parking brake is fully off. Might help to the cage the parking brake springs. One of the many problems Luas-Girling brakes had was the hydraulic spring parking brakes not fully releasing. You might want to get the service manual for that truck. These brakes are not 'do-it-yourself' friendly, be careful and seek professional assistance if you are not sure of what you are doing. There was a guy with a Lucas-Girling F-700 on one of the Ford Truck forums a while back that screwed something up and lost his truck down a hill. Tree pretty much totaled it, probably a good thing all considered! If you have a chance, my advice would be to get rid of this truck and find a good TopKick/Kodiak or International (without a MaxForce engine). __________________ 1967 GMC CM-2500 Camper Cruiser, 351E V-6, NP 435 4 speed, Dana 60, and factory A/C. 2012 GMC K-3500 WT regular cab, 6.0L Vortec, 6L90.

03-28-2019, 05:24 PM	#3
richard2717 Equal opportunity joke ofender Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Eastern Shore of MD Posts: 9,888	Re: not a gm but could use some help Bob, I am unsure of the actual issue as I have not gotten it in the shop yet. I am going by what the state inspector told me when I went to pick it up. He is telling me that he broke his adjuster tool trying to back the brakes off and can just barely turn the drum by hand it is so tight. I suspect the brake may be partially stuck on. The truck only has 85k miles on it and I suspect the lack of use may be playing in to this somewhat. My bucket truck is the same cab & chassis with 252K on it and not had this issue. FOr what I paid for the truck I don't mind spending some money on it but I got the feeling he did not want to mess with it. I am hoping to be able to get the drum off without tearing up the backing plate since it is not leaking and the shoes look ok from the back side view. That all may change once I get the drum off. Heres to hoping I can get the drum off and figure out why it is hanging up. I know it won't be simple or cheap because I own it. lol Richard __________________ Members I have met. Dually Jams, OlBlue60, ScottH, Tommyboy24, Dujobo, Warbucket, 2003 Silverado, Notsolo, my90k5, 6t727t2, Special-K ,Jack_71C10, tabarcus,72blazer_mud_bogger,pwdcougar,RSavage,EricSean,1Rippen6,invicta455,tennaragtop71,arks, Kendal,Bennett68C10, Perpendicular, Chainsawman, McGeesCustomMinis,ShortbedClayton,longblue72,6768chevylover,Tim71,Travisarmenta,Ol' Drippy,fleetmitch,georgieb51,Dave,bcnya2,Dadsburb https://paypal.me/6772GMtruckparts Most women like the strong, silent type… Fortunately for me, my wife prefers the out-of-shape, mouthy type.

03-28-2019, 05:25 PM	#4
richard2717 Equal opportunity joke ofender Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Eastern Shore of MD Posts: 9,888	Re: not a gm but could use some help And I do have the service manual __________________ Members I have met. Dually Jams, OlBlue60, ScottH, Tommyboy24, Dujobo, Warbucket, 2003 Silverado, Notsolo, my90k5, 6t727t2, Special-K ,Jack_71C10, tabarcus,72blazer_mud_bogger,pwdcougar,RSavage,EricSean,1Rippen6,invicta455,tennaragtop71,arks, Kendal,Bennett68C10, Perpendicular, Chainsawman, McGeesCustomMinis,ShortbedClayton,longblue72,6768chevylover,Tim71,Travisarmenta,Ol' Drippy,fleetmitch,georgieb51,Dave,bcnya2,Dadsburb https://paypal.me/6772GMtruckparts Most women like the strong, silent type… Fortunately for me, my wife prefers the out-of-shape, mouthy type.

03-28-2019, 08:18 PM	#5
Bob B. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,309	Re: not a gm but could use some help The adjusters can be very difficult to turn on those. Also, access can be a problem if the slots are close to the leaf springs. If you have it up on jacks, try releasing the parking brakes with the engine running and see if the drums turn freely. Good you didn't pay much for the truck, you have some 'room' money-wise to fix it. __________________ 1967 GMC CM-2500 Camper Cruiser, 351E V-6, NP 435 4 speed, Dana 60, and factory A/C. 2012 GMC K-3500 WT regular cab, 6.0L Vortec, 6L90.



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