1965 no rear braking | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models
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1965 no rear braking

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Thunderbird Year
1965
I recently replaced the MC and front calipers, Bled the MC and all the lines at bleeders. Front brakes working fine, Installed new wheel cylinders in rear, fluid coming out bleeders in the rear but no braking action. I am a bit stuck any ideas would be much appreciated.

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If fluid is coming out the rear bleeders then its making it to the wheel cylinders so something is 'jammed up.

Couple of things to check, first, are the rubber lines to the wheel cylinders new ? They can "hourglass" internally and hold pressure on the brake shoes so they stay expanded and won't move farther...,,even though fluid may move one way to the bleeders under pressure.

If there are self adjusters did you get each one on the proper side, they are NOT interchangeable and usually marked "L" and "R" somewhere, did you get the leading and trailing shoes on the correct sides of each brake hub....did you lube the part of the backing plate where the shoes 'slide... Are all the springs/parking brake parts on properly ?? If there is a proportioning valve did you adjust it properly ? Is it a dual MC conversion ?

Post some pictures of the rear brake ass'y with the drum off if you know how.

You can put the drum 1/2 way or a little more onto the shoes and have someone push the brake pedal to see if the shoes expand and move like they should as a test. And yes, you should run the adjusters out until the drum drags when turned and then back off several 'clicks'.
 
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Rear right assembly
Not sure about the proportioning valve I don't think mine is adjustable
It is a single pot mc
 

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I looked at those pictures carefully, like really close - I see nothing wrong with the assembly and if the bleeders squirt juice and the rubber hoses are good, its perplexing. I assume that you used brake cleaner assiduously on the shoes and drums before final assembly and there is no grease/oil on those components. I was hoping to see the parking brake "spreader bar" installed improperly or the star wheel on the adjusters wrong (common problems) but nope you have it right.

Does the parking brake lock up the rear drums and release them when disengaged ?
If so, the system operates mechanically (hydraulics not used), so, the shoes will slide, the springs work, etc. Meaning there is something wrong with the fluid side of the system. If the parking brake does NOT work the brakes, it may be time to strip the rear drums down and make sure there isn't a problem there by testing them as shown on my 63 Corvette; e.g. apply/release the cockpit parking brake while someone observes the operation at the rear:


Again, maybe putting the drums on 1/2 way and observing the brake action while somebody presses the pedal might tell you if the shoes are even expanding.
 
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