1974 FJ40 Brake Pull left and drivers side won't stay adjusted.

[KWA]

The FJ40 is a project car and I have slowly been chipping away at the things that need to be fixed. Brakes have always pulled to the left and have been weak. I changed brake booster and master cylinder both needed replacing. Brakes work a lot better but pull to the left a lot more.

I finally got around to adjusting the brakes. Read a lot of the post on how to adjust and probably need to do it again. However, drivers side brakes/wheel had no resistance when rotated and would almost free spin. Adjusted the drivers side so it had the same resistance as the other brakes/wheels when rotating and took it for a drive.

It still pulled to the left. At slower speeds when I would press on the brakes hard it would lock up the drivers side wheel and skid the drivers side tire only (that I could tell). When I try to press half way down on the brake pedal going 30-40 mph it would pull the cruiser into the left lane. Went back home jacked up the front tires rotated the passenger side same resistance. Rotated the drivers side and it is almost free spinning like it was before being adjusted.

Not sure what to check? Something is taking the drivers side brake out of adjustment but how can it still be locking up? Thanks for the help.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

What year? (I surmise 74?)
I assume stock front drum brakes.
Condition of wheel cylinders?

 

[B y r o n]

Sounds like you need to pull the drums and check the condition of the shoes and internals. You may also need to re-bleed the system as there may be air in the passenger side which would reduce the brake affect on that side.

 

[brian]

There are two cylinders, per wheel...how old are they?

 

[KWA]

Yes. 1974. Drums on all 4. I will take it apart this week to look at it. Previous owner said he replace shoes and cylinders about 12-14 years ago but it has sat for most of that time.

12 years geez. How time flies. I thought it was like 6 or 7 years. Had to sit down and figure it out. Thanks again.

 

[B y r o n]

Yes. 1974. Drums on all 4. I will take it apart this week to look at it. Previous owner said he replace shoes and cylinders about 12-14 years ago but it has sat for most of that time.

12 years geez. How time flies. I thought it was like 6 or 7 years. Had to sit down and figure it out. Thanks again.

Knowing this, it sounds like right side cylinder(s) may be rusted in place.

 

[brian]

there are frozen cylinders

 

[KWA]

there are frozen cylinders

That makes sense. I will take it apart and look at it. I assume if the cylinder adjusters don't turn then they are frozen and need to be rebuilt.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Previous owner said he replace shoes and cylinders about 12-14 years ago but it has sat for most of that time.

He might have replaced them with auto-parts store rebuilds.

That makes sense. I will take it apart and look at it. I assume if the cylinder adjusters don't turn then they are frozen and need to be rebuilt.

I'd only rebuild if they were known to be OEM. That said, I have no idea of the availability of OEM cylinders at this point.

 

[KWA]

Finally got time to get the front brake drums off.

Passenger side has a rear wheel cylinder that is not the same as the other three? No neck. Could that be the problem?

All Wheel cylinders adjusters are able to rotate in both direction. Passenger rear cylinder was tight but loosened up. Drivers front cylinder was tight but also loosened up. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[brian]

neck?

 

[fjwagon]

My experience with drums all the way around is having to adjust them every 5 to 6 months. I adjusted each wheel the same amount. Mine were so out of alignment that they started leaking. I kept messing with until I got them right.

 

[3_puppies]

with it jacked up, have someone press on the brake pedal, see if both wheels are tight

 

[KWA]

neck?

If you look at the last picture (passenger side). The front wheel cylinder necks down. The rear cylinder has no neck down/step down? All front wheel cylinders (haven't taken off the rears yet) have this neck except the passenger side rear wheel cylinder. Passenger rear wheel is just straight no neck/step down or narrow part in the middle. I'm wondering if they put the wrong cylinder on?

 

[KWA]

with it jacked up, have someone press on the brake pedal, see if both wheels are tight

 

[KWA]

Probably a dumb question. But this needs to be done with the drums and wheels on?

 

[brian]

Probably a dumb question. But this needs to be done with the drums and wheels on?

Just drums..with two or so lugs keeping them back were it needs to be

 

[middlecalf]

Do your adjustors have ramps where the brake pad metal flange sits in? If so, they need to slope towards the axle IIRC, and if not, it's better to have sloped ones (installed with the slope the right direction ) .

 

[KWA]

My experience with drums all the way around is having to adjust them every 5 to 6 months. I adjusted each wheel the same amount. Mine were so out of alignment that they started leaking. I kept messing with until I got them right.

Just drums..with two or so lugs keeping them back were it needs to be

Okay will try later this week

 

[KWA]

Do your adjustors have ramps where the brake pad metal flange sits in? If so, they need to slope towards the axle IIRC, and if not, it's better to have sloped ones (installed with the slope the right direction ) .

Not sure. I will check when I get home.