The Great Ms. American 3.14159 Chase Truck Renovation Caper

Originally Posted by Rich27028

JC -something like a really small yard sprayer-bug sprayer--get one of those small plasic ones [quart size] at lowes or home depot-- ill have to think on this --

Hey Mr. DH,
How about THIS: A large plastic SQUEEZE BOTTLE (like a Dish Washing Liquid Detergent Bottle) filled with Dot3 Brake Fluid, attached to the flared end of the Steel Brake Line that goes into the Master Cylinder with a small rubber hose? One could then just squeeze the bottle and the Dot3 Brake Fluid would go through the lines. Once that is done, one could then blow them out with the previously mentioned CAT (Compressed Air Tank). I HAVE a CAT!

JC

Hey All,
Today's exercise will be cleaning the rest of the parts for Lorrie's Left Front Brake Assembly Components, and the parts for Lorrie's Right Front Brake Assembly.

Once those are done, it will be on to honing the Lorrie's Left Front Brake Cylinder, and installing the Spring, Cups, and Boots supplied in the Wheel Cylinder Rebuild Kit.

Then will come the application of Brakleen to Lorrie's Front Hydraulic Plumbing System, and then blowing it out with compressed air. Then flushing it with DOT3 Brake Fluid.

Then will come the removing of the OLD Flexible Front Brake Hoses, and the quest to find NEW ones. It may involve taking the OLD Flexible Front Brake Hoses to a place in Blanchard (between Onalaska and Livingston) that MAKES Hydraulic Hoses, and having a set made up.

Weather is supposed to be GORGEOUS again today, with clouds creeping in tomorrow. Don't know how long this GREAT weather is going to last, but it has been WONDERFUL to be able to be out in the fresh air, sitting in Ms. American, working on Lorrie's Brake Assembly Components.

Will keep you all updated.

JC

Hey All,
Friday Update (so far).

Here are the JPGs of the CAT!

This first is of the Compressor, the Compressed Air Tank, the Air Hose, and Air Nozzle.



This JPG is of the Air Nozzle with the Neoprene Hose that went over the fitting on the Air Nozzle's nose, and then over the Flared End of the Front Brake System's Fitting that goes into the First Reservoir Outlet on the Master Cylinder.



The first thing was to assemble all the equipment to make the set-up shown in the JPGs. And then to pressurize the CAT to 80 psi.

The next thing was to put Brakleen into the the Flared End of the Front Brake System's Fitting that goes into the First Reservoir Outlet on the Master Cylinder.

The next thing was to connect the Neoprene Hose to the Flared End of the Front Brake System's Fitting that goes into the First Reservoir Outlet on the Master Cylinder.

Then all that had to be done was to push the lever and the air pressure went into the system. I could see only the Right Front Flexible Hose, and out of it came Brake Fluid and THEN a big whoosh of Brakleen.

Upon inspection, evidence was found that a similar situation had occurred at the Left Front Flexible Hose.

The Left Front Flexible Hose was then Capped, and Brakleen was again put into the Flared End of the Front Brake System's Fitting that goes into the First Reservoir Outlet on the Master Cylinder. And again the air pressure was applied, and only Brakleen came out of the Right Front Flexible Hose.

Then the Right Front Flexible Hose was Capped, and Brakleen was again put int eh Flared End of the Front Brake System's Fitting that goes into the First Reservoir Outlet on the Master Cylinder. And again the air pressure was applied. As was mentioned, the Left Front Flexible Hose is not visible from where the air pressure was triggered, but it could be heard, and there was a bit of evidence on the ground that indeed the Brakleen had gone through the system.

Then the Cap was removed from the Right Front Flexible Brake Hose, and the rest of the Air Pressure in the CAT was run through the system to dry it out. a strong stream of air could be felt coming out of the Right Front Flexible Hose.

QUESTION: Is it safe to assume that the Front Steel Brake Line System is CLEAN and CLEAR with the above operations having been performed? Or should MORE be done?

Anyway, if the above described procedure is sufficient, it will then be time to remove the Flexible Brake Hoses, and to see if NEW ones can be found.

In the meantime, the Left Front Wheel Cylinder can be honed and rebuilt with the kit that is already in hand.

Will keep you all updated on progress as it happens.

JC

what did the fluid coming out of the hoses look like. good indicator of sys condition. i dont think the supposed incompatability of dot7 and dot 3 is really a problem. actually they just won't mix. so what?

Originally Posted by galax-z

what did the fluid coming out of the hoses look like. good indicator of sys condition.

Hey Mr. G-Z,
Actually, it was just a quick "sploosh" of Brake Fluid that came out and flew about three feet out to the side of Lorrie. BUT from just the fleeting glance that I got of it, it seemed to be just CLEAR Brake Fluid, followed by a SPRAY of Brakleen. The Brake Fluid being higher viscosity stayed in a stream, but the Brakleen being a solvent, came out in a spray surrounded by a mist.

i dont think the supposed incompatibility of dot7 and dot 3 is really a problem. actually they just won't mix. so what?

Well, there isn't ANYTHING in the Front Steel Brake Line System NOW. It is hopefully CLEAN.

I'm going to call it "Good To Go", and just get on with it.

BTW, the thought occurred to me that maybe the Rear Flexible Brake Lines are identical to the Front Flexible Brake Lines. I haven't yet even looked at them, but am going to give it a shot when I finish here.

Will let you know what I find.

Hope you are well.

JC

Hey All,
Just crawled under Lorrie to look at the Rear Flexible Brake Hose (There's only ONE). And it is so gunked up with road grime that I can't tell what the ends look like, but it isn't anywhere near being what the Front Flexible Brake Hoses are.

Am just going to have to remove the Front Flexible Brake Hoses and see if I can have them duplicated. Or MAYBE tested. Heck, they may be usable after all.

JC

Hey All,
The thought occurred to me that just because Lorrie has been sitting since 1996, that THAT doesn't necessarily mean that her Front Flexible Brake Hoses absolutely NEED to be replaced, does it? They are still flexible, and are not leaking anywhere.

QUESTION: Is there any way to TEST to see if they NEED replacing?

It would certainly simplify matters if they didn't have to be.

JC

good test --run it and see. i've put cars on the road after sitting 20 years and no problem. one time on a mbz sl had a strange thing happen. car stopped well, but then one front brake would stay applied. bleed off the pressure, and good to go till next brake application. turns out the brake hose had failed inside-a flap of rubber acted like a one way valve. anyhoo the outside appearance usually is a good indication of the inside

Originally Posted by galax-z

good test --run it and see. i've put cars on the road after sitting 20 years and no problem. one time on a mbz sl had a strange thing happen. car stopped well, but then one front brake would stay applied. bleed off the pressure, and good to go till next brake application. turns out the brake hose had failed inside-a flap of rubber acted like a one way valve. anyhoo the outside appearance usually is a good indication of the inside

Hey Mr. G-Z,
A fellow over on the DodgeTalk Forum said:

Originally Posted by B-300

Hoses screwed into the wheel cylinder (sealed with a copper washer),

Yes.

Got a NEW Wheel Cylinder for Lorrie's Right Front Wheel, and it came with the Copper Washer. Got a supply of those same Copper Washers at that time.

with a hex flange on the chassis end that has an inverted flare connection is exactly what the A-100 and early B-series vans with drum brakes use.

So... possibly an A-100 and/or an early B-Series Van w/ Drum Brakes Flexible Brake Hose would work. The end opposite the Wheel Cylinder that goes through the Hex Flange is a LONNNG threaded section.

Did a CAREFUL inspection of the EXISTING Front Flexible Brake Hoses yesterday evening. Cleaned them off the oxidized rubber on the surface, and under the soot-like covering, the rubber is solid, no cracks, and the Hoses are flexible, solid, and quite substantial.

Am thinking that all they need is a careful cleaning of the Wheel Cylinder end fitting, and reinstalling them when the Wheel Cylinders and NEW Copper Washers go back on.

Then before driving Lorrie, doing a test by applying a LOT of Brake Pedal... Actually make a concerted effort to "pop" the brake lines. If they don't give out, I'd feel pretty safe in just leaving them on.

Whaddaya think?

Also, in messing with this, notice that the Steel Tubing in the system has a coil of wire around the Steel Tubing. What's up with THAT, I wonder? Ms. American 3.14159 (the 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 Police Interceptor) doesn't have anything like that on her Brake Lines.

So here's the PLAN:

Going to hone the Left Front Wheel Cylinder, and install the Rebuild Kit. Then reassemble both front Brake Assemblies.

Going to then put Lorrie's Rear Axle up on Jack Stands, remove the Wheels/Tires, remove the Rear Brake assemblies, remove the Wheel Cylinders and Flush the Rear Brake System with Brakleen and Compressed Air.

Will inspect the Rear Wheel Cylinders, and if they'll come apart, they'll get honed and new Cups, Spring and Boots will be installed the same as Lorrie's Left Front Wheel. If they are "frozen", as was Lorrie's Right Front Wheel Cylinder, they'll get replaced with NEW Units.

Will clean and repaint the Back Plates, Drums, and Brake Assembly Components, and reassemble the Brake Assemblies.

Then comes installation of the NEW Master Cylinder, and the hooking up of the Front and Rear System Connections. Reinstall the Brake Pedal Push Rod, Add Dot3 Brake Fluid, and Bleed the entire system. Then try to "pop" the Flexible Brake Hoses.

BTW, Lorrie is going to NEED the Boot that goes on the Keeper that holds the Master Cylinder Cylinder in place, and through which goes the Brake Pedal Push Rod. Do you have any idea where THAT item can be had? If not, it's Google Search time again.

The Brake Light Switch, along with the Pedal Back Travel Limiter also has to go in place.

As soon as all this is done, It'll be time go get Lorrie's Engine back up and running. But that's another Saga.

Anyway, thanks for the info about the A-100 and B-Series Brake Lines. If Lorries Hoses pop, then those will possibly be what will replace them.

Will keep you updated as events occur.

JC

Hey All,
Saturday Update:

Here is a JPG of the Right Front Flexible Brake Hose Fitting. This is with just the grime WIPED off/



This is the Left Front Flexible Brake Hose Fitting AFTER it was cleaned with a Wire Brush Wheel in the Craftsman RotoTool.



Also, the Left Front Flexible Brake Hose got wiped down thoroughly first with a Viva Paper Towel, then with a Terry Cloth Towel, then with an OLD Scotch Bright Pad with Armor All Tire Foam. This was then wiped dry. Then a coating of Armor All Tire Foam was liberally applied and let to sit. The result is a NEW looking hose. Then using a 10X Head Set Magnifier the hose was examined. There are NO cracks, checks, or any problem with them. Am going to leave them on, but test them once the brake system is finished to see if they can be "popped".

Also, tried to hone the Left Front Wheel Cylinder. There is one quite pitted place, but it is right in the middle of the length of the bore. It wouldn't present a problem because it isn't where the Cup would have to seal, BUT... I'm not sure about the rest of the bore. It doesn't seem to be as smooth as it should be. Have decided to just go ahead and put all new Wheel Cylinders on and be done with it.

So the first thing to do is install the NEW Wheel Cylinder that is already here on the Left Front Brake Assembly, seeing as to how all the Brake Components for the Left Front Brake Assembly are all cleaned.

Monday, will order the other three units from NAPA.

The Brake Components for the Right Front Brake Assembly are all soaking in solvent. Will take them out, dry them off, and then spiff them up with the Wire Brush Wheel in the Craftsman RotoTool.

The latest weather forecast is for GREAT weather for the foreseeable future.

Will keep you all updated.

JC