rear brake lock up

[knighthawk]

how do tou keep the rear brakes from locking up before the front, with a single circut brake system as used on these 50's cars ????

[Mark Haymond]

Is this happening on your car? What are you driving?

[knighthawk]

'55 T - Bird....a friend of mine

Edited February 7, 2013 by knighthawk

[greg g]

brake shoe adjustment or proportioning valve.

[knighthawk]

that;'s what I wqanted to know. Is it a common problem ? Have many of you installed proportioning valves ?

[martybose]

In a factory drum brake car it was usually done with smaller wheel cylinders on the rear brakes; any chance they were changed?

 

Marty

[knighthawk]

yes I changed them while back, got the from the NAPA store, I think, maybe from Advance Auto

Edited February 7, 2013 by knighthawk

[Mark Haymond]

I am not familiar with the 55 T-bird brakes. (That would be my wife's dream car.) Perhaps rear is working OK and the front brakes are under performing. Possibly glazed front brake shoes from fluid leaks, or shoes needing adjustment. Maybe a T-bird forum would know if they even had porportioning valves in 1955.

[knighthawk]

yes, thanks, I'm doing that now.

[knighthawk]

recently I   did the  brakes on a '55 T Bird, that  after repairing/replacing the   complete system,  the car  still had too  ,much  brake  to  the rear.  The rear  would lock up  and   throw  the car  sideways.  After  consulting  with a  senior  member  here on the forum,  plus a  guy  I met  that  builds  pro  street  race  cars, and also  a retired  automotive  teacher,  It  was decided  to  increase  the  size/diameter of the  main  line  going to the rear  axle. The original  line  was  3/16,  I replaced it  with  1/4''.  ( was a  easy  'bolt' in  fit... did not  have to change any fittings )   The  increase in  diameter, plus added resistance  of  more interior  surface,  was enough  to  fix  it problem.  Afterward ,  the car  braked evenly  at all  4  wheeels !    I'm  told that   some of the car manufactors increased  the  size  ( like I did )  on  some cars  built  soon  after  this ('55 ).  I just thought   this  would  be  of  intrest  to  some  readers........thabnk for  your  time .

[Don Coatney]

Glad that worked. I would suggest you contact a forum moderator and have him move this thread to the thread where this was originally discussed. By doing so furture readers can get the full story all in one place and closure to the original thread.