picked up an 84 pickup 4x4 for my new project truck, my 05 DD Project can be seen here. I have lots of plans for this new truck but like many others I need to get some mechanical issues out of the way first.

It has new calipers, hoses, and pads in the front along with a new master cylinder. The problem I am having is with the front wanting to lock up. After driving about 5 miles you can start to feel the front brakes grabbing and the pedal becomes more and more firm. If I turn the engine off then start back up and try to go again it's almost like the fronts are trying to lock completely. when the truck sits over night I can start this same process all over every time. I dont know where to go from here....Help!

here are a couple pics, dont have many since I have only owned the truck for about 3 weeks.





after the little brake problem is fixed I'll move on to rebuilding the front axle.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

Bueller.....Bueller.....

any Ideas on the brakes?

On a side note I have decided I probably want to go with a 3" lift.

 

Booster!

 

There is not much you can do with that besides just replace it, Correct? or maybe take a look at the Check valve?

 

Yes replacement, junk yard one would work. I had an 84 f150 do that to me, would heat up like a bugger then no brakes. That truck was great, 100 bucks and i drove it for 4 years. My 88 yota has only 280k, if it was not for beaters all these years, my yota would have 580k. My Fav beater was an 86 toy pu 2 wheel drive, man i drove that like a rental, i miss her.

 

Thanks for the reply. Ill try a new booster. It's odd that every article I read had to do with a "squishy pedal" and brakes not wanting to stop the vehicle, not a firm pedal and brakes grabbing to much.

 

Hey, whats up? Just figured I would give you some info on the three inch springs I bought for my 84. They are the procomp 3", not too firm, but not too soft. All in all they give an exellent ride with the rancho RS9000XL's, and still offer a decent amount of flex.

 

Good to see another TN guy on here!

 

I am not sure how to test a booster, just saying it may be the prob. good luck

 

Did some testing today with the booster. I unpluged the vacuum line to the booster and taped it closed so the engine would run correctly. I then taped the vacuum fitting on the booster. This basically makes it just like having manual brakes only. I drove around (very carefully) for about 30 min. the brakes worked great, no grabbing or locking. This makes me think for sure it's the booster causing the problems.

Dinner break.....

After dinner I hooked everything back the way it's supposed to be to be and drove to the grocery store. When I got out of the truck I smelled that the front brakes had been grabbing and were hot. Came out of the store and drove towards home, then about 300 yards before I pull back in the driveway I got to push the brake pedal going around a turn and they work B E A U T I F U L L Y, better then they ever have, pedal felt normal/not firm, stopped good, and the fronts were not locked up when I got in the driveway nor hot.... WTF.... testing continues.

 

mmmm Dang

 

haha self repairing brakes neat