new deuce owner and leaky brakes

[bigginstactical]

I just bought 72 deuce and am trying to figure out all the odds and ends with it. I have noticed that there is fluid showing up inside the rear wheels although the brakes work just great. I was wondering if i should be concerned or is this a common thing? If not what parts to i need to replace? Any advice is appreciated thanks!

 

[wsucougarx]

Be sure it's not gear oil first. If it doesn't smell like gear oil then it's probably brake fluid. If that's the case, quit driving your truck until you replace/rebuild each wheel cylinder. As you know, the earlier deuces have single circuit brakes. If you loose one wheel cylinder, you will have NO brakes and very bad things can happen. So best to check out each hub and replace or rebuild those wheel cylinders. Best to keep it safe.

 

[mikey]

Concerned? Why?

It's just a six ton truck with a single circuit brake system which could potentially be failing. You've still got the parking brake. And when that doesn't slow you down, you'll have other motorists to cushion your impact.

Stop driving and start reading.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce-tms/77607-tms-deuce.html

Mikey

 

[swbradley1]

I just bought 72 deuce and am trying to figure out all the odds and ends with it. I have noticed that there is fluid showing up inside the rear wheels although the brakes work just great. I was wondering if i should be concerned or is this a common thing? If not what parts to i need to replace? Any advice is appreciated thanks!

And yet we still don't have Dell's emotioncon......

 

[swbradley1]

Oh yeah, read the TMs and get either the rebuild kits or new wheel cylinders if it is the brakes. Make a power bleeder or buy one from Motion.

 

[197thhhc]

Here is a short list of what you will probably need to repair on the brake system

1. rebuild/replace all wheel cylinders
2. rebuild/replace master cylinder
3. Learn to check your brake fluid everytime you drive your truck.
4. If the airpack is suspect. rebuild/replace it.

Then the truck may be safer to drive.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Its not the end of the world, just open the hub and see what needs fixed. If it turns out to be brakes, I reccomend looking at all of them because with the single circuit system, "if one is bad, the others are not far behind!". Could be as simple as an axle breather not venting and causing the gear oil to push past the seals.

 

[Broke Down]

The wheel cylinder rebuild kits are cheap, new wheel cylinders are about $35-$40. Take your time and get it right the first time. I have been guilty of looking and asking questions forgetting about the TM's listed in this forum, take some time and spend a few hours reading. Most of the TM's have illustrations explaining in detail what needs to be done. Good luck!

 

[mckeeranger]

I just bought 72 deuce and am trying to figure out all the odds and ends with it. I have noticed that there is fluid showing up inside the rear wheels although the brakes work just great. I was wondering if i should be concerned or is this a common thing? If not what parts to i need to replace? Any advice is appreciated thanks!

Ditto to what the others have said. Figure out what it is, then take care of it. These trucks are big, but they're not overly complicated. If you can work on an old car, you can work on these trucks. Just remember pretty much everything is big and heavy.

I wanted to add, WELCOME to Steel Soldiers. I love the Port Angeles area. Ever been camping up at Deer Park?

 

[Heavysteven]

Yes, you should be concerned if it's brake fluid you could kill yourself and that would suck.

So is it brake fluid or gear oil?

 

[bigginstactical]

yes i used to live up deer park road! It seems to be just grease at this point but i plan on re doing all the brakes and seals just to be safe.