'61 Van - More brake issues

Hi Fellas,


I recently picked up a '61 Van and '61 pickup. I'm working on the van first.

The brakes were basically hammered from rotten hoses, to leaky cylinders, to bad drums. I replaced all that. However with everything new down to the bearings, the van still pulls to the passenger side when you stomp on the brakes. Its not bad but its bad enough. After checking the fluid pressure on both left and right sides and swapping drums left to right. Nothing has changed and the pull is still there on a hard stop.

What am I missing? My guess is suspension, its old and the bushings all look hammered.

I am basically a rookie when it comes to this stuff but I do have a few brain cells and know how to turn a wrench.

Chris Irons

The front right brake hose comes straight off the master, the others are all along the same line. Any chance your got something funky going on with the hose or the master that is causing it to push more fluid that way?

How about making a couple of hard stops and some with only the parking brake and see what skid marks you get,,,,,,,are they all the same,,,,,,,is one longer or shorter than the others,,,,,pulling also occurs if the other side aint doing its job,,,,,,,so go find some clues,,,,,,you sure you got the adjustments right and the primary and secondary shoes not mixed up?

Thanks for the ideas. I knew about the direct line from the master cylinder to the front right brake. Brake fluid pressure at both left and right front wheel cylinders is the same. But I too thought it might be something to do with the hose so I swapped it because it was old and tired looking.

As far as the shoes goes Im pretty sure I have that right but I will certain try a skid test.

,,,,I guess you can add,,,,,,anything is possible after all these years,,,,,,,,wheel cylinders could be wrong size,,,,,,adjusters could be wrong side,,,,,,and unadjust the shoes,,,,,,,,,tire belts could be broke,,,,switch tires around,,,,,,,,is the toe in set right,,,,,if you jack the front end up and hold the steering wheel,,,,,,,,and grab each wheel,,,,,is there movement in, out, up or down,,,,in the wheel bearings, ball joints, drag link, king pins or steering box?

Upadte.... So drove the beast about 500 miles on the new brakes. The pull is gone. My best guess is maybe there was something in the wheel cylinder.