'49 Ford F1 Brake Problem

I have a '49 F1 that had/has a peculiar brake problem. When the binders were applied, she wanted to make an immediate left turn. In order to apply the brakes though, the pedal needed to be pumped a couple of times to build up pressure. So we fully adjusted (a couple of times) and checked the fluid level which brought back the brake pressure. The steering system has been looked through, everything checked out fine except for having to replace the drag link. Now when the brakes are applied, it still wants to pull to the left. I'm stumped. Almost forgot. . . The front brakes are stock and the rear is a '74 Ford 9", I'm guessing it's from an F150.

 

check your axle caster

 

Axle caster? She tracks straight and true down the highway. . .

 

Do you have rebuilt wheel cylinders? sounds like your right side is not working. Jack up the front end and try and spin the wheels by hand while someone has the brake applied. You may be able to hold them by hand from turning but with the weight of the vehicle going down the road it may be a different story. Check those wheel cylinders?!!! Good luck-

 

If you are still using the old brake hoses it is common for them to swell shut on the inside.
Open the bleeders one at a time and see if you get a good stream of fluid when you push the pedal.

 

Is this a new problem,are you losing fluid, have you rerouted any lines,wheel cylinder leaking?

 

A friend of mine narrowed a front I-beam. It looked good. It drove good but when he hit the brakes it pulled hard to the left.he changed the master cylinder, residual valves, rear brakes were rebuilt, and rebuilt the front brakes. he changed the axle and it solved the problem. He told me that he looked at the old axle and he had it off just enough to make it act real nasty when the brakes were applied. It was caster or camber.

 

ran into this awhile back....


CHECK Right front hose.....................could and probably is collapsing

 

Sometimes when working on brakes the rubber lines get pinched so they won,t leak on floor,this will damage the lines.Best to change them out.

 

My '32 truck with f-100 brakes did the same thing. Turned out to be a corner of the riveted brake linings broke off and wedged between the lining and drum. Simple fix on this one...

 

have you tried bleeding them?

 

I have to agree with the hose diagnosis. If it's collapsed inside it will sometimes maintain some pressure and be really sensitive to application- happens all the time on street vehicles here in the rust belt when the hoses have brackets that go around the hoseand rust; expanding and restricting the hose in the process. Old hoses, hoses that have been pinched or twisted, etc.