Starting With Stopping

[Linda Jay]

Hello, Mostly this is an introduction or re-introduction to me and my 1959 FC Wagon. I used to be a member in NSW and I am about to join VIC.
My wagon looks authentic on the outside, but is has had sone modifications. It has a 179 motor, and HR front and rear end with booster brakes.
I mostly want to improve this cars authenticity, but I am happy to keep these modifications as that is what I have and it works.
My car was my daily driver, but when I bought the farm & started putting bales of hay in the back I decided to rest her up and buy a ute.
The only trouble is, that she now has been somewhat neglected as her maintenance has not been a priority.
This upsets me muchly, so as of this week I have decided to turn this around.
I have charged her up and started her up, and she still goes fine (of course)
The other reason I stopped driving her was that the brakes weren't working, which I suspect is just a leaking line somewhere.
I thought I fixed them once, I pulled them apart, cleaned them up, bled the system, and it worked, but by the time I got out the driveway they stopped working again.
I made it back into the shed, where , over time, the rest of the fluid has gradually disappeared.
The trouble is, she has been sitting with no brake fluid in her for about a year.
I was thinking of just putting fresh fluid in, bleed it and then see where it leaks?
Would I be better off to pull the brakes apart and clean them up, put them back together, then bleed it.
Or should the system have a brake flush put through it?
I would prefer to fix the problem here rather than tow it anywhere. I am on a budget and live a fair way out.
I will have many more questions in the future, but I thought I would start with stopping. :-)
Thankyou
 

[FCRB26]

Welcome Back to the forum.

Definetlly strip each corner at a time and check for gumming of the cylinders and re build them kits are cheap if the cylinders are useable.
 they may need a light hone. check for wear and pitting also check flexible lines for wear highlly recomend replacing if they are original can cause many problems from blockages
to spongy pedal.
Also rebuild the master cylinder and blow the lines out to remove any old fluid or crudd as it could have moisture in it and particles.
Make sure the shoes are not covered in fluid or oil clean off with a bit of petrol.

I recomend using silicon brake fluid as is does not absorb moisture and should never gum up..


Good luck on the repairs Pete

[mcl1959]

I second Pete's comments, however if you use silicon you have to have the whole system clean, no residue in pipes or hoses anywhere.
Ken

[Linda Jay]

Thankyou,
I now have to go away to Brisbane for two weeks for work,  but I will get onto this as soon as I get back. 
Thanks for your help.
Linda Jay

[fe350chev]

I'm jealous rb26 Pete. All I got was a dot 

[FCRB26]

 

[fe350chev]

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