Golden Jubilee
Posts: 1806
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:26 pm
Location: Dinuba, central CA
Re: Looking at 1956 S-130 This Weekend
Number one is to replace the rubber lines. Should be three of them, one each at the front wheels and one at the rear axle.
Look very closely at the steel brakes lines. Any sections that have heavy rust/ heavy pitting or have rubbed on a frame clip or something must be replaced.
Next, take the front wheels off. I just had the front drums off my B130 one-ton and the brakes appear identical to R100 half-ton.
Mine has two one-ended wheel cylinders on each front wheel.
If the cylinders aren't pitted you can rejuvenate with wheel cylinder kits. However, my life isn't like that usually. New wheel cylinders might need to be found.
Keep in mind these old brake shoes are very likely asbestos-based. Wear a face mask, why take a chance however small?
I've been working on brakes for forty years and I still do one side at a time in case I forget how something went. Try to keep shoes and return springs together as assemblies.
These old return springs scare me. They can snap at any time. I'd look for new replacements.
White lithium brake grease is dabbed on the contact points between shoes and backing plates after backing plates are washed off with soap and water ( doesn't raise asbestos dust).
Finally, after wheel cylinders are rebuilt or replaced, brake hoses replaced, springs replaced, shoes evaluated for thickness and condition you can repack the front wheel bearings with wheel bearing grease and replace grease seal.
I've reused grease seals that looked OK. If they're available though replace them.
Oversize drums should be replaced. Having said that almost every mechanic I know has temporarily reused slighty oversize drums at some point. Keep in mind your antique truck is unlikely to be ever loaded to capacity again.
However, safety is number one here. Brakes gotta be as good as we can make them.
The one ton brake drums on my B130 had "big six" wheel lug pattern and are indeed unusual-looking.
I replaced mine with used R100 front drums. They went right on. I therefore have two "good"( haven't been miked) front drums.
With your low mileage I suspect your drums are OK, though.
Good luck!
1933 IHC B-3 f
1935 C-1 IHC pickup
2 x 1936 IHC C-30 Fbs
3 x 1938 IHC D-2 Pickups
1938 IHC D-30 fb
1941 IHC K-1
2 x 1947 IHC KB-1 Pickups
2x 1953 IHC R pickups