Just picked up a 37 Dodge D5 and having problems with the front DS shoes locking. The rest of the system is working fine. I have checked the wheel cylinder, return spring, adjusters, etc. and everything works fine. I can pump the peddle a few times and the front DS shoes will not release, but the PS releases just fine. If I bleed the pressure off the wheel cylinder, then the shoes release. The only thing I can think of is the residual valve. But why would it only lock one wheel? Is is because it is the wheel closest to the MC? Also, what PSI residual valve would the old Dodge have? Any help would greatly be appreciated, thanks.
Man, we went through a similar Hell with my buddies 38 Plymouth. I think it was a matter of really fine tuning the brake adjustment of each shoe. In his case it would be fine and as he drove it would drag increasingly. As the brake shoe would drag, creating friction and then swelling creating more drag. To the point it would completely freeze up. If this is similar to your situation, take some time and really learn how to adjust those pads properly. That's what we did. We also rebuilt then replaced his master cylinder thinking that's where the problem was.
Ok...so how did you check them? Hoses are known to break down and collapse inside and act like a one way valve holding pressure in the cylinder. Visually, they don't look any different outside with the problem going on inside! If they're old I'd just replace them to be safe anyway. But of course there are other possibilities for the issue AND ArtGeco just offered one!
Well I haven't looked inside the hose, but the hoses look to have been replaced not long ago. As far as shoe adjustment, I have matched them to the ones on the PS(which are working fine) the best I can. I think I am going to go ahead and put new hoses on the front and a new residual valve just to eliminate them from the possibilities.
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