Brakes didn't want to stop truck

[red1ton]

Was tooling down the freeway (unloaded) and realized I was about to miss my turnoff. I hit the binders to slow down for the exit. I did slow down but I didn't realize how bad the brakes are on this truck. This was the first time I had to try to stop over 50 MPH. If there was a car in front of me, I don't think I could have avoided hitting it. I have the drum rears.



Scary

 

[Rambling]

I don't know how long you've had your wheels or how many miles are on it, but have you had the rear brakes serviced? If the un-automatic adjusters aren't serviced or brake adjustment checked at least everytime you change the oil, you could effectively be stopping only with the front brakes. As you noticed, they aren't enough to stop our rigs at high speeds. I've noticed that since I have had the rears worked on, brake dust buildup on the front rims seems to be slower.



Of course a near 4 ton truck doesnt' stop like an 2 ton auto.



Just a thought.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Rear brake adjustment?

Some report that the self adjusters not working , you might try this , back up in safe place (empty parking lot ) about six to eight mph slam on brake , back again slam on brake , do this for atleast five times them forward stop do it over one more time . this seems to work for me . I have a feeling that most auto adjust don't get the hard stop in normal use to keep in adjustment . You could give it a try ,and let us know if this helps. Ron in Louisville KY

 

[Turbo Trucker]

That's wierd, my brakes have major stopping power. If you take a look at the rear drums, they are HUGE. I've got 70,000 miles on the rears and they are working good. My automatic adjusters seem to be working good too.

 

[JJMiller]

While the hard-stopping method of forcing the non-self adjusters to work will get the job done, I just do mine while I have the rear wheels off for tire rotation. Since I know they don't like to work right, I feel better about the process when I turn the little star wheels myself, feeling for drag and assuring that I get the same number of "clicks" on each side. I also pull the drums while I'm at it for inspection, but that's just me.



$. 02,



--J

 

[Todd T]

its probably because you are missing a tooth on your ring and pinion. they should be 3. 55's





if the backing up and stopping doesnt work, there is a rubber seal over the window, you can use a screwdriver and turn it a few clicks by hand.



also if you were unloaded, your proportioning valve could be out of wack. make sure it isnt bent or ?. its on the rear pumkin and has an arm that reaches up to the frame rail. make sure you havent caught it on something and bent it.



I think the brakes on my new truck, work a whole lot better than my 95 did.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Did the pedal pulse at all? Do you have 4 wheel or RWAL? I know on mine, if I slam the brakes, the RWAL kicks in and makes you think you're not stopping. At least if feels that way.