Brake rebuild recommendations

[427TJ]

Okay, I had the s__t scared out of me in my '67 Camaro yesterday when the right-front brake grabbed and ripped the steering wheel out of my hand. Luckily I was going about 5 mph and avoided a catastrophe. The brake kept dragging and caused a vibration as if the pad was sticking to the drum. I backed the car up slowly, applied the brakes, and the right-front locked and skidded the tire. I got it to release, cruised slowly around the parking lot I was in and decided that I could chance driving it home. I cruised home VERY slowly. The right-front was still a little grabby under gentle brake application but I got the car into the garage. I've been considering a full brake rebuild for a while and I think now's the time.

The car is stock ('67 RS/SS 396) and has stock 4-wheel power-assisted drums. I recently checked the brakes and there was still good pad and no grooves, etc., in the drums. Still, I'd bet that the brakes haven't been worked on in many years.

Any recomendations on what brake kit manufacturer makes the best rebuild kit? I want the stock-appearing power booster, not one of the new smaller ones.

I am hesitant to convert to discs but it is a consideration.

Thanks in advance for any advice, tips, and recommendations!

[Belair62]

Pull it apart..see if you can find a problem ...rebuild/replace the wheel cylinders,replace the spring and hold down kits and you should be good for another 10 years ....

[TDW]

If the hoses have not been replaced, I would change them. They will swell shut and hold pressure on the wheel cylinder.

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
They will swell shut and hold pressure on the wheel cylinder.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do cold outside air temperatures help cause the lines to swell shut? It was mid-30s yesterday.

Good ideas Belair and Tony---THANKS! Wheel cylinders and springs, hoses, etc.---sounds like it might be an easy fix.

How hard is it to properly bleed power brakes after a fluid change? Never done it.

[Belair62]

Piece of cake if you have a one man bleeder tool..if not just get a gal or a pal to help you...

[JoeG]

I can vouch for Bob --he stands behind every brake job------------------------

[Belair62]

Hey....it was metric brake fluid..how was I supposed to know...

[budnate]

Bill its probably a combination of things..the return springs may be week and the shoes a little out of adjustment...the shoes can get grabby when the springs are not holding them tight and they will bind up...how are your fingers??? bet that wheel was really moving when it took off on ya...when I worked at the dealer in the used cars... almost all the cars ended up with new brakes before we sold them on the lot...man I did a lot of jobs and sucked more brake dust than I should have back then...where the heck was osha...hope to make it to 75....

[Kim_Howie]

NOW that would hard to explain to your Ins Agent and I didn't have any of these

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
how are your fingers??? bet that wheel was really moving when it took off on ya

[/ QUOTE ]

Luckily, I was only in a parking lot at about 5 mph when it happened but the wheel did zip right out of my hands. I don't grip the wheel so as soon as I felt what was happening I let up on the wheel and the car simultaneously lurched to a stop. As I said, I was thankful that I wasn't clipping along the avenue at 35 when it happened! Then it would have been brakes AND new front sheet metal, etc.

I'm going to replace the cylinders and springs, adjust them, and put new silicone* fluid in. From what I've read from you guys so far I think that might do the trick.

Any pros/cons on silicone brake fluid. I saw it offered on Rick's 1st Gen site.