A bit of 63 brake weirdness

[Frank D.]

Well when my right rear brake started dragging badly (bad brake hose on that side) it really heated things up to the point I believe that drum warped...after replacing wheel cylinders and hoses on both sides of that axle I got a really bad thrumming stopping above 50 mph. I replaced ALL the drums and the issue is gone. HOWEVER, in reworking the front brakes I found BOTH adjusters were frozen; I've had frozen adjusters but never two at once on the same axle. Frozen badly enough I had to put the long part in a vise and use pump pliers on the star wheel to break things loose. In addition, the shoes on the front were all pretty glazed. I of course put new adjusters and shoes on the front. And, yes, the adjusters were on the correct sides and lightly lubed when I isntalled them.

I put EVERYthing new on the brake system 4 years ago and was a little perplexed on what's going on in the front now... This car gets some spirited driving but nothing excessive and no panic stops..

[Edward J.]

[Frank D.]

Re: A bit of 63 brake weirdness

Frank, I have always used a coating of anti seize, it may be the humidity rusting the part? Here in the northeast we deal with humility and treated roads for the snowy season. It’s is a very short time for the adjusters to freeze like that.

Maybe the anti-seize is a better idea than the lube I've been using; I'll try it...thanks.

[Richard G.]

[Frank D.]

Re: A bit of 63 brake weirdness

I guess I'll switch to anti-seize then - thanks...

[David B.]

Re: A bit of 63 brake weirdness

You are correct about GM assembled dry. Delco Moraine assembly print instructions specify "Lubricate with dry film lubricant DM-6842 or validated equivalent to a thickness of .0002 to .0004 etc. etc."

[Duke W.]

Re: A bit of 63 brake weirdness

The trouble with any kind of grease including typical anti-seize compounds is that they are sticky, so will attract brake dust and get real sticky. A better idea is to use a dry film lubricant like graphite. I use a product call Lock-Eze that's been around forever. It's designed for locks, but since it's an emulsion of spherical graphite in a petroleum distillate the graphite stays put once the solvent evaporates. Graphite is an excellent lubricant for highly loaded surfaces with low relative velocity. It's also great for cables like clutch, parking brake, and motorcycle control cables.

Shake well before using.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: A bit of 63 brake weirdness

I have used NeverSeize since the '60's and never had a problem, dust or seizing

[Frank D.]

Re: A bit of 63 brake weirdness

Yup - I used marine-grade wheel bearing grease and that was a mistake - won't do that again!