71 C-10 Brake issues? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71-C10 · 09-29-2013, 02:24 PM

My 71 has been sitting for a long time, and I'm in the process of getting it back on the road. Even though it hasn't been out of the garage for several years, I crank it occasionally. One of the things I had to do was put a master cylinder on it, which I did this morning. With that taken care of, I attempted to back it out, but it would not move. I can try to push on it in neutral, and it won't roll. I was thinking maybe it had back brake issues, so I jacked it up, and with it in neutral, I cannot rotate the back tires. I can move the passenger side rear a little, but it won't rotate. I can't move the drivers side rear at all. I tried removing the drums but I cannot get them off. I want to try backing the adjusters off and see if I can remove the drums to do a little inspecting. I've looked at all of my manuals and cant see which way to turn the adjusters to back them off. Do I turn them up or down to back them off? Is there anything else that would keep the back wheels from turning?

Thanks,

Eddie

airdale94 · 09-29-2013, 06:23 PM

If they turn freely one way and you can hear the clicks, that is tightening them. They shouldn't turn the other way until you take a small screwdriver and push the lever off the star wheel. Hold the lever back and turn the wheel. That's loosening them.

68gmsee · 09-29-2013, 07:42 PM

Probably best is to see a pic of the asm. If you look at the adjusting lever it pushes down on the outside of the star wheel so you would have do the opposite. From the backside you would have to go down to reverse it.

The pic is of the driver's side rear.

68gmsee · 09-29-2013, 07:51 PM

Added information: Be sure and use a thin screw driver to push on the self adjusting lever otherwise it's very hard to turn the star wheel.

Brake cylinders could be rusted and hydraulic pressure will expand them but spring pressure is not enough to retract the brakes.

One other thing you can do is to loosen the bleed valves at the rear and see if the will move then. If they do, you may have a completely swollen (collapsed) rubber rear brake line on the top of the axle. Shuts off the fluid from returning to m.c. Not noticeable from the outside, though.

71-C10 · 09-29-2013, 08:09 PM

Thanks guys, that helps a lot.

09-29-2013, 02:24 PM	#1
71-C10 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 70	71 C-10 Brake issues? My 71 has been sitting for a long time, and I'm in the process of getting it back on the road. Even though it hasn't been out of the garage for several years, I crank it occasionally. One of the things I had to do was put a master cylinder on it, which I did this morning. With that taken care of, I attempted to back it out, but it would not move. I can try to push on it in neutral, and it won't roll. I was thinking maybe it had back brake issues, so I jacked it up, and with it in neutral, I cannot rotate the back tires. I can move the passenger side rear a little, but it won't rotate. I can't move the drivers side rear at all. I tried removing the drums but I cannot get them off. I want to try backing the adjusters off and see if I can remove the drums to do a little inspecting. I've looked at all of my manuals and cant see which way to turn the adjusters to back them off. Do I turn them up or down to back them off? Is there anything else that would keep the back wheels from turning? Thanks, Eddie

09-29-2013, 06:23 PM	#2
airdale94 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Topeka,KS Posts: 778	Re: 71 C-10 Brake issues? If they turn freely one way and you can hear the clicks, that is tightening them. They shouldn't turn the other way until you take a small screwdriver and push the lever off the star wheel. Hold the lever back and turn the wheel. That's loosening them. __________________ 68' C20. 283CI w/55CC 305HO heads, NP435 Close Ratio, Corp. 14 bolt FF 3.21, 75' front end swap (everything but the X-member).

09-29-2013, 07:42 PM	#3
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: 71 C-10 Brake issues? Probably best is to see a pic of the asm. If you look at the adjusting lever it pushes down on the outside of the star wheel so you would have do the opposite. From the backside you would have to go down to reverse it. The pic is of the driver's side rear. Attached Images __________________ 68 GMC 250/3 speed Saginaw p/b p/s 69 Chevy 350/350 currently in pieces still lookin for a cab 06 Trailblazer I just want a vehicle that I can work on, that won't talk to me, leave error msgs or keep track of how I drive...

09-29-2013, 07:51 PM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: 71 C-10 Brake issues? Added information: Be sure and use a thin screw driver to push on the self adjusting lever otherwise it's very hard to turn the star wheel. Brake cylinders could be rusted and hydraulic pressure will expand them but spring pressure is not enough to retract the brakes. One other thing you can do is to loosen the bleed valves at the rear and see if the will move then. If they do, you may have a completely swollen (collapsed) rubber rear brake line on the top of the axle. Shuts off the fluid from returning to m.c. Not noticeable from the outside, though. __________________ 68 GMC 250/3 speed Saginaw p/b p/s 69 Chevy 350/350 currently in pieces still lookin for a cab 06 Trailblazer I just want a vehicle that I can work on, that won't talk to me, leave error msgs or keep track of how I drive...

09-29-2013, 08:09 PM	#5
71-C10 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 70	Re: 71 C-10 Brake issues? Thanks guys, that helps a lot.



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