Well after getting my new master bled,installing new rear wheel cylinders and rebuilding the proportioning valve I finally got a chance to check out my brakes,hoping they would be better than before.Well now my rear brakes won’t release after the brakes are applied.Hopefully this weekend I can get around to pulling off the rear drums and see what’s going on.I’m going to check to see if the linings are getting hung up on the backing plate.I’ll probably pull the linings off and clean and lube the backing plate contact points.Is there any reason that the newly rebuilt proportioning valve would stick an not let the rear brakes release?I followed Don’s how to video on the rebuild.All the rubber flex hoses were replaced when the car was put on the road about 10 yrs ago.This has me scratching my head because I’ve not had problems with the rear brakes before.Anything else I should look at?Is there anyway to check to see if my proportioning valve is the culprit?I just want to drive my cat.
Just a thought, did you put the shoes with the shorter lining facing forward? Checking for backing plate grooving as you mentioned is a good idea as well.
Seems unlikely that a problem with the rebuilt prop valve would cause this, but stranger things have happened.
I’ve got my proportioning valve and its innards spread out on my desk right now and looking at it, I can’t see how it could cause the rear brakes to lock. To do that, the passage inside the piston would have to be plugged up and the piston would have to bind in its bore, effectively becoming a one-way valve. I suspect you have the brake shoes on backwards. Like Bob said, there are front shoes and back shoes
Thanks for the ideas,the shorter lining goes to the front correct?I’m fairly certain that’s the way they are but I will double check it.I did test the proportioning valve like Don did in the video and with a little pressure it did work as in the video.would it be fairly safe to have a drum off to see what’s happening when the brakes are applied? it looks to be a nice weekend so hopefully Saturday after work I can get to work on the cat and see what’s up with it.
The parts houses will sell you shoes that are too wide for the drums. It almost works. IF it isn’t hydraulic, (release the bleeder valve) then loosen the lug nuts and see if that fixes it.
Ok whose right?one says short goes to the front and one says longer one goes to the front .according to the Ford manual it looks as if the short one faces toward the front.Anyone???
Thanks Bob,that’s the way I have them.I managed to get some free time and got the rear of the cat up.made sure the rear wheels turned freely and started it up,hit the brakes a few times and they were locked up.waited a few minutes and they were free again.locked them up again and tried Bill’s trick,when I opened the bleeder they turned freely.I’m hoping that it’s the rear flex hose that’s starting to go bad.looks like I’ve got some work ahead of me.
Wow. I went through most of the shop manuals I have looking for redemption. All reflected what Bob stated, so I’m feeling pretty stupid at the moment. However, in a futile attempt to save face, in the 1954-55 Ford Truck Shop Manual it shows the primary (front) shoe larger than the rear. I’m gonna go hide now…
Loosen the line leading to the flex hose (upstream). If the brakes release its not the hose. Keep moving to the next connection until you find the problem.
We have a Winner!!! took the booster/master out and turned the push rod back 3/4 of a turn,got my checking gauge back out and all seemed ok.re installed the booster/master and bled the brakes and now they work great.going to take it for a spin tomorrow after work and see how they really work
I’d like to give a BIG Thank You to all who helped me with my brake problem.after getting off work my son had the cat all ready for it’s bath and then we took it for a cruise.the brakes work great.we even went to a business parking lot and I let him take it for a few laps around as he was out there with me helping out.he was grinning ear to ear all the way home.
Yep. 
.according to the Ford manual it looks as if the short one faces toward the front.Anyone???