Checked the brake fluid the other day and found that the front pot [front brakes] was nice and clean , what I expected to see but the rear was dirty brown..? With the help from my daughter [much kicking and screaming , teenage girls dont like helping their Dads with cars] I had her gently apply the brakes so I could see the fluid move, yep front and rear seem to be fine.

Would it just be crud because of the longer lines?

Also I still have not had much success with the "Old Irish Dave" setup I have, although brakes where not good to start with.. With this type of setup and even the original manual type I should be able to lock the brakes.. I cant even get close, harder I apply the more it fades. Everything seems to be working fine. The only thing I can think of is that whoever did the brakes did not fit the shoes to the drums and the contact area is just not happening, can I do anything about this now...or is the colour a give away to some other problems???



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

I'd try bleeding the rears, and adjusting them by the book. If that does not help I'd question the master cylinder piston size, compared to the original. Also look at the rear brake cylinders for condition.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Are you using the original master cylinder pushrod? Usually they are too short for a dual chamber master. Since the chamber closest to the firewall is for the front brakes they are getting all the "action". The rear brake chamber isn't getting used much, hence the murky fluid and weak braking. Adjustable length pushrods are available. You want about 1/8" clearance between the end of the pushrod and the piston with the brakes released.

Talkwrench, I installed Old Irish Daves power booster and dual m/c last fall on my '56(drum all around). I have had no problems and if I were to do it again I think I would only go with the dual m/c...but I really do have great brakes now. I did have the two piece rod and had to do a little adjusting to get it right. I did call Irish Dave a time or two and he was a lot of help.

I seem to remember on this site quite a while back that someone cautioned to be sure to get the brake shoes on the right way...that its easy to get them switched...you might want to do a search. Hope this helps

Jim

Location:Washington,Ia

Talkwrench, I have the Irish Dave setup too. BUT I had to go get a longer 3/8 fine thread rod. I have awesome brakes now. Mine is on a 57 Fairlane.

1957 Fairlane

As was mentioned, make sure you have the shoes in the correct position. The short lining shoe goes on the front, the longer on the back.

Check the rear brakes to make sure they are working. Just raise the car, have some one apply the brakes, and check to see if the rear wheel turns.

With dirty fluid in the rear, check the rear cylinders for dirt/rust. Bleed as necessary to get any "dirty" fluid out.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

The kit came with a new adjustable rod. You can only go so far with it, pedal is in the right position, even checked the M/c to Booster adjuster, done. Its not going to the floor or anything. All the linings, cylinders "look" to be in as new condition, the brakes where done just before I bought the car, You can even see the coloured stamp on the side of the linings still. Ive checked the linings and from memory where the right way around. Brakes work when you jack it up and lock up no probs.

Im sure I took a picture a while ago of the linings, w/ cyl etc so I'll try to post up later.

I have the brakes adjusted right up.. maybe I'll try to back off and see what happens..

Stumped..Gotta be the linings are'nt fitting the drums..???



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

like I said with mine, I had the "best" power with the adjusting all the way out. So I went to Fastenal and got a 3/8 fine thread all thread rod and made a longer one. Best brakes now. BUT it is a do or die thing, because that rod coupling is molded onto the allthread and had to cut it off to use the rod coupling

1957 Fairlane

If you lengthend the rod did that not just move your pedal further away from the floor.. Do you still have the original rubber pedal stop.. You still have abit of "free play" at pedal?



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Talkwrench,

when you installed your Irish dave master what other work did you do to your brakes? If you have rubber hoses that are over 20 years old they need to be replaced. Same with 50 year old hard line. a minimum of kits in slave cylinders when doing this kind of work.

Locking brakes are not a good thing good peddal and effective stopping are more desirable.

cheers

Warren

Grizzly (Aussie Mainline)