1999 8600 gvw brake questions.

[KQQL IT]

I gravity bled for an hour to flush new brake fluid thru the system. Theres a bleed port on the back of the abs unit. Didnt mess with it though.
Have read about folks bypassing the abs altogether.

And still hate drum brakes but the passenger side was easier than the 1st.
How did my dad make it look so easy all those years.

[hatzie]

I've had gravity bleeding leave air pockets untouched on my 88, 94, 95 & 2000 T400 trucks.

I'm with the folks that bypass the ABS on these rigs. I went the stealth route after the ABS activated and tripled the braking distances on bumpy dry pavement. My 2000 had the ABS fuse pulled and the ABS warning lamp replaced with a burned out bulb in the cluster soon after I bought it in 2001.

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by hatzie

I've had gravity bleeding leave air pockets untouched on my 88, 94, 95 & 2000 T400 trucks.

I'm with the folks that bypass the ABS on these rigs. I went the stealth route after the ABS activated and tripled the braking distances on bumpy dry pavement. My 2000 had the ABS fuse pulled and the ABS warning lamp replaced with a burned out bulb in the cluster soon after I bought it in 2001.

Drove it tonight 1st rain in a while still stopped good and a perfect pedal. More than pleased with it. But the rears where adjusted til I heard the shoes just barely drag the drum.
6 months down the road will be a better comparison.

Looked to me like a couple of bent brake lines and you could completely bypass the entire abs deal.

My abs still works as far as I know. And hasnt done anything weird.

[hatzie]

Sounds like it's good to go. Deactivating the ABS is really as easy as pulling the fuse so if it gives you any problems I wouldn't hesitate.
If the adjusters are working they should stay the proper distance from the drums as long as you use the parking brake regularly.
In the Northeastern rust country where they do safety inspections it's a good idea to exercise the parking brake often so it doesn't seize up.
I always had manual transmissions til I bought the Impala in 2009. My A1 watercooled VW cars had a reputation for starter activation without the driver or key present. Mine never did it but I never left one parked in gear for that very reason. I got in the habit of using the parking brake every time I parked a vehicle and I still do it. It doesn't make any difference on the newer stuff with rear discs but most drum brakes have the adjustment takeup tied to the parking brake system.

[KQQL IT]

Wife uses park brake every time in the driveway.
As much as the political climate sucks the weather is pretty awesome.
Didnt do any more than wash the backing plates after not being apart for nearly 20 years.
Didn't even get a spring kit.
The park brake pedal has 1/2 the travel it did.
Always depressed me that my manual brake '73 square has a better pedal and stops better with mismatched parts, the master cylinder and wheel cylinder sizes.
Ford 9'' with E-150 brake components with unknown wheel cylinder size.
And the 68 is a bigger Frankenstein yet.
1/2 ton manual drum truck swapped to a 3/4t power disc and drum deal and still stopped better.

[hatzie]

I have to agree with you that the brakes on all of my GMT400 trucks just sucked in comparison to my other trucks even tho I had Hydroboost on all four of them.
The 76 & 2005 have hydroboost too and they don't suck... Even tho the 2005 had coal black brake fluid.
It might be in interesting exercise to put the 13" JB7 rear brakes from a 70's or 80's 10-1/2" 14bolt and the master from a 2003-2005 2500HD on the 2000 C2500 and see if it improves... The other option would be the entire disc brake 10-1/2" 14bolt AAM from a GMT800 along with the matching master and front brakes... The AAM swap is a bit more involved.

[Bob B.]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Well... took a big swing at our crew cabbie in the last 2 days.
Not sure which one component or the fresh bleed and new brake fluid or brake adjustment made the biggest change but it finally has a nice pedal.
And stops like I've always thought it could.
Only took 19 years of not liking the brakes to do something about it.

Now to fix the heater core next. Stupid trucks Ha-

The heater core on these is easy! Usually you can remove the bottom cover off the HVAC box right in the truck and wiggle the core out. One of the cover screws is a little tough to get back in as I remember, but that's about the worst of it.

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

The heater core on these is easy! Usually you can remove the bottom cover off the HVAC box right in the truck and wiggle the core out. One of the cover screws is a little tough to get back in as I remember, but that's about the worst of it.

Heater core was easy ish.
The hole the clip screws into that holds the heater core in got broke in the process.
Plastic glue didnt cooperate, but it's all back together.

The brakes are better than ever. Still not sure which one part made the biggest change. But the shoes and drums are seating and gets better at every time I drive the truck. It's the wife's daily getter. And she even noticed so that's got to mean something.

[Mr_Rich]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Heater core was easy ish.
The hole the clip screws into that holds the heater core in got broke in the process.
Plastic glue didnt cooperate, but it's all back together.

The brakes are better than ever. Still not sure which one part made the biggest change. But the shoes and drums are seating and gets better at every time I drive the truck. It's the wife's daily getter. And she even noticed so that's got to mean something.

You might investigate plastic welding. Plenty of YouTube videos on the subject. I fixed my cracked radiator shroud by plastic welding. You might investigate this subject since our trucks have many discontinued parts now.

[KQQL IT]

Hoping the delco heater core I got for it lasts another 19 years.
And I'll never have to open the dash up again. 🙃

[diveplane]

dang something i gotta do is replace my rear drum pads soon.