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Technical 32 Juice Brake Troubleshooting

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Brian Harvey, Mar 24, 2026.

  1. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    Hi all,
    I posted about getting some help with a few things and got some advice to post lots of pics. Car is new to me and I’m new to early fords. I’ve got to stand on the brakes to stop and looking for direction. I did find a wire loose while under the car, not sure that has anything to with it (last pic)…. Any direction or ideas?
    upload_2026-3-24_12-39-22.jpeg
    upload_2026-3-24_12-40-24.jpeg upload_2026-3-24_12-41-33.jpeg upload_2026-3-24_12-41-57.jpeg upload_2026-3-24_12-42-18.jpeg upload_2026-3-24_12-42-43.jpeg upload_2026-3-24_12-43-4.jpeg upload_2026-3-24_12-43-39.jpeg
     

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  2. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,493

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    No , wire only looks to be for brake light. You might want to change the brake switch to a OEM
    Harley Davidson.. cheap ones known to leak & blow out.. I use a micro switch ,
    No fluid style .
    I can not remember Those might be later then 40 style
    Someone will chime in to verify.

    There a procedure to adjusting
    40 style brakes you need to adjust both shoes to the drum , each shoe has its owen ajustment, you might need to arch shoe to make correct contact to drum.
    Shoes will show if not making close to 3/4 contact , ( cir***ference)
    You also need to pre load brake peddle with 30-40 pound weight before adjustment . I hung weight on brake pedal from under neath while adjusting shoes.
    Wants done correct you will not have to stand on the brake pedal
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2026
    vtx1800 likes this.
  3. FritzJr
    Joined: Feb 11, 2007
    Posts: 863

    FritzJr
    Member

    The mount and linkage to adapt the master cylinder looks to be well made. However, the linkage may not result in a proper pedal ratio. You will need to measure the lever arm lengths and calculate the resulting pedal ratio. It should be about 6 to 1. Less than that will make the brake pedal require too much force.
     
    Toms Dogs and 19Eddy30 like this.
  4. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,129

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    This is one of the Gene Hetland cars right? When was it built and how much use has it had? Brake hyd systems do not react well to long term storage . It is very possible that all that is needed here is to rebuild the wheel cylinders. Have you had the drums off and peeled back the dust boots on the wheel cylinders to look for corrosion???
     
    Kiwi 4d, oldsmobum, BJR and 1 other person like this.
  5. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    Yes, it was a Hetland car. That’s next when I get some time over the next couple days I’ll pull them. Thanks!
     
    Kiwi 4d likes this.
  6. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,129

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    you need a special puller to remove the rear drums....
     
    19Eddy30 likes this.
  7. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,636

    BJR
    Member

    I worked at a big car collection. We had to go through all the cars with hydraulic brakes and replace all the wheel cylinders and the master cylinder after flushing out the lines. All because they had been sitting for 3 years or more. You would not believe how corroded the wheel cylinders would be.
     
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  8. NoSurf
    Joined: Jul 26, 2002
    Posts: 4,939

    NoSurf
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    upload_2026-3-24_18-7-2.jpeg

    Could look like this. The Voorhees 34 coupe sat for a couple years.
     
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  9. clem
    Joined: Dec 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,742

    clem
    Member

    never heard of the ‘preload before adjustment’ - so does everyone do this ?
     
    GuyW likes this.
  10. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,129

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    that is a new one on me. and they look like 42-48 brakes to me and do not have the same adjustments as the 39-41's do as they have a fixed pivot on the bottom. It is important that the arch of the shoe matches the drums though
     
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  11. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 23,032

    alchemy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes I agree with 48 brakes, and I see a little leak on the rear so it would surely be good to pull the drums and put a kit in the cylinders. And I highly recommend only a kit, as many of the repro cylinders have a manufacturing flaw that makes it harder to get them to bleed correctly. Trust me.
     
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  12. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,493

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    @ time I when one of 32's built like 1950 had 40 brakes ,
    I did search on maintenance I believed I found procedure over on Ford Barn or some where down line .
    What I feel the weight does/know after adjusting each brake shoe in one drum & centering when wieght removed you will have a consistent shoe to drum gap Like brake adjustment on slack adjusters
    (air brake)
     
    clem and winduptoy like this.
  13. Hitchhiker
    Joined: May 1, 2008
    Posts: 8,543

    Hitchhiker
    Member

    If you do need new cylinders, I have had zero issue with raybestos cylinders available on rockauto.
     
    warbird1 and NoSurf like this.
  14. Onemansjunk
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 603

    Onemansjunk
    Member
    from Modesto,CA

  15. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 4,306

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sure looks like it, doesn't it....
     
  16. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    What do you mean by that?
     
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  17. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,129

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    yeah... I don't see it either?
     
    clem likes this.
  18. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    not finding a leak anywhere?
     
  19. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 4,306

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The flex line that goes from the master cylinder around the torque tube....it may be the angle of the photograph but is surely isn't a nice long radius....and if it has been sitting for awhile....
     
  20. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,493

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Just asking is vehicle new to you ?
    If so are you use to 4 wheel drums as in feel of pedal pressure need to apply .
    Or is this a issues that has occurred.
    Have you pulled drums to see if there is a Hi spot on brake shoes , maybe shoes need arking ?
    Usually a bad rubber line will not return fluid back to master after released. brakes will drag/ lock up.
     
  21. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    Got it, the angle isn’t great, doesn’t look that bad in person, but you’re right, not a long radius.
     
    winduptoy likes this.
  22. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    Vehicle is new to me. I am used to drums, I’m 225lbs and stand on the brakes to halfway stop. Pulling drums later today to take a peek. I’ll report back with pics.
     
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  23. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 23,032

    alchemy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The pic of the left rear has liquid on the spring, and a stain down the backing plate.
     
  24. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,636

    BJR
    Member

    I bet you have some frozen wheel cylinders.
     
    Moriarity likes this.
  25. Brian Harvey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2026
    Posts: 29

    Brian Harvey

    ok, pulled left rear drum. Before I go to far, I wanted to see what you guys think.
    upload_2026-3-26_20-42-50.jpeg upload_2026-3-26_20-43-14.jpeg
    upload_2026-3-26_20-43-43.jpeg
     
  26. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 4,493

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Pic of shoes , as in do they show @ least close to 3/4 to full contact of radius when brakes Applied ,
    Fresh shoe's new has sorta rough material , With some mile's shoes will show smoother like seated , lapped in pattern.
    With care you can rap a ratchet strap around the shoes to test wheel cylinder
    So you do not push cups out .

    Example below of arcing
    You can use like sharpie maker draw line on shoe to see pattern , drum will need to reinstalled
    IMG_5186.png
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2026
  27. NoSurf
    Joined: Jul 26, 2002
    Posts: 4,939

    NoSurf
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I would take all the wheel cylinders apart and check them. Maybe re hone them.
     
  28. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,129

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    peel the rubbers back on the wheel cyls (you don't need to take anything further apart to do this). see any fluid or corrosion?
     
  29. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 14,621

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    NoSurf likes this.
  30. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 39,129

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    only the 39-41 brakes have the lower adj cams. he has 42-48 brakes they have non adjustable pivots on the bottom
     
    Johnny Gee likes this.

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