Something doesn't seem quite right with the brakes on the '56 Fairlane I recently picked up. I feel like I have to stand on the pedal to stop the car. Maybe this is normal for a 52 year old car with a stock brake system? I'm use to modern brakes and drum brake systems on old VWs.
If the car has been sitting awhile you may have frozen wheel cylinders. first off jack it up and adjust the brakes for a very LIGHT drag. While the/that wheel is off the ground have someone apply the brakes while you try to turn that wheel. If you can turn it with brakes applied most likely a frozen cylinder or a pluged up brake hose/line to that wheel. Drum brakes ,without power,with what we call "hard" low friction lining will not stop very good and need a lot of pedal effort. If you have a buddy etc. that has some experance with old non power drum brakes have them drive it and get their opinon.
JohnEvans is right - make sure the system is working correctly mechanicaly first, all wheels will stop with brake pressure. I would replace ALL of the hoses as a matter of curse on an old car I knew little about. Also, since the asbestos was removed form brake linings some years back, the new linings are harder and require more pedal pressure. old velvet touch was nice, eay braking, but is gone from the market. the old non-power brakes DO take more pedal than a modern car, in some cases WAY more and are still considered to be working well. An upgrade to a power boster may be in order in modern traffic.
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