brakes

[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I had my brakes done last fall and they were fine, but now pull drastically one way when I press on the brake pedal hard. I have made sure the sides work and are on properly. What could be the problem other than adjustment, since adjustment doesn't seem to solve the problem. Could the brake shoes be arched improperly? Or is there another cause. Any and all help is appreciated.:)

Comments

  • Have you checked the wheel where the brake seems to pull? There could be a leaking wheel cylinder on that wheel.
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    This happend to me, and the cause turned out to be a stretched return spring. I picked up a new set of springs from NAPA and the problem was solved.



    Matt
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    I just did RBs 54 which went one way or the other when he hit the brakes. All wheel cylinders were leaking and the RF shoes were soaked. One rear shoe was worn thru.



    BTW, rear cylinders (Coni-Seal 13600 and 13601)(15/16 for stepdown's) are $10.38 new at my local parts store with 15 deg angled juice holes. Angled holes won't work in the front as it puts the hose into the spindle.



    Use WC13220 and WC13221 (1 1/8) in the front.(Stepdowns) They have straight juice holes at about $30.
  • I even had a bad spring [the small one with the pin]causing the brake shoe to rub on the drum when I applied the brakes. Better off just putting on new brake hardware as long as the wheel cyls. aren't leaking. There priced so reasonable it's worth the peace of mind. Jim
  • Have experienced similar problems with a 52 Wasp coupe. Couldn't find anything wrong when I pulled the drums... It turned out to be the rubber brake lines. They rot from the inside out. When they rot, the holethrough the hose closes up. You overcome the restriction when you push the pedal, but the shoes don't return fully... Thus, when you apply the brake the next time, it pulls to that side because it grabs quicker.
  • hdsn49
    hdsn49 Senior Contributor
    I have been having the same problem with my 49 sedan. It pulls to the left. It gets a little better after the brakes warm up a bit, but you don't want to stomp on the brakes. Several years ago I had the wheel cylinders rebuilt, changed the brakes shoes and the wheel seals. It helped for about one year.



    Monday, I'm going to change the brake hoses, put in new cylinders and new brake hardware.



    I'll let everyone know if that corrected the problem.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Chances are it is a leaking wheel cylinder - even though the brakes may have bheen "done". fluid on the linings will cause them to grab, until they get reall saturated, and then they won't grip at all. so you go from pulling to one side, then the other. Pull the wheel off and see what's going on.
  • I finally pulled both front wheels and checked the brakes. I should have given more information, when I 'did' the brakes, it included new master cylinderm, new wheel cylinders, new flex hoses and new springs plus the lining was replaced. All new not rebuilt. The brakes were fine then I had to stop suddlely when this problem started to occur. I will re-adjust the brakes and see if that is the problem. I read in some manual that the longer lining goes to the front and the short to the rear, but can't find the spot where I read the this. Is this true? and any other places to look to solve this problem, like have the shoes re-arched? thanks.
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    eddynghdsn16 wrote:
    I finally pulled both front wheels and checked the brakes. I should have given more information, when I 'did' the brakes, it included new master cylinderm, new wheel cylinders, new flex hoses and new springs plus the lining was replaced. All new not rebuilt. The brakes were fine then I had to stop suddlely when this problem started to occur. I will re-adjust the brakes and see if that is the problem. I read in some manual that the longer lining goes to the front and the short to the rear, but can't find the spot where I read the this. Is this true? and any other places to look to solve this problem, like have the shoes re-arched? thanks.



    I found this on Google, Automotive brake shoes consist of a primary and secondary shoe. The primary brake shoe is the front shoe and normally has a slightly shorter lining than the secondary shoe. The secondary shoe is the rear shoe and has the largest lining surface area. The two Hudsons that I have installed brakes on all had the short lining shoes towards the front. Richie.
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    Richie is Correct.... The longest Lining (secondary) always goes to the rear of every vehicle....If you had them replaced they probably are installed correctly



    Brake Shoes are 'cam ground' concentric so if they were reversed it should stop ok awhile, however the small front Lining would wear out way before the long front shoe by design....



    One would think Lining would be equal size, however, Longer secondary Lining are required on the Rear side because of the more severe friction forces on the rotating drum from driving forward. Just the Dynamics of Drum to Lining Action, unlike the 'clamping' Force of equal Disc Pads to Rotor....
  • eddynghdsn16 wrote:
    I had my brakes done last fall and they were fine, but now pull drastically one way when I press on the brake pedal hard. I have made sure the sides work and are on properly. What could be the problem other than adjustment, since adjustment doesn't seem to solve the problem. Could the brake shoes be arched improperly? Or is there another cause. Any and all help is appreciated.:)
    If you have a new parts and hoses then check the inside diameter of the drums. Hudson drums can be turned 0.060 oversize and on the front they both must be the same size. If not, one will heat up quicker and here you have a pull. Another thing, when drum is off remove the inner bearing and check the bearing race is not loose or turning in the drum. This is caused by overtightening the wheel bearings. Walt.
  • Hi Hudson Dave here . The easy way to tell is to take shoes ,springs , drums and all and swap sides . If it pulls the same way you have a hose or w/c problem . If it goes the other way you have a contaminated shoe problem .:eek: If it pulls the other way then swap just the brake drum back . By swapping side to side you will find the problem with out spending any money . Just your time. I hope this helps :) Hudson Dave
  • Thanks to everyone, it appears that one side of the brakes was contaminated or there was something that made it drag, and I thought it might have been a bad wheel cylinder. I just pulled the drums, made sure there was no leakage and cleaned the shoes and drums. Then re-adjusted the brakes and all seems to be fine. This is weird because I thought the last thing I did was clean everything before re-assembly, I must have missed this step. Thanks again to everyone.
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