Hello, new here, just picked up a 71 Valiant but am having some rear brake issues.

The rears drag and heat up hot when just driving. They are set up good and everything is new - dual master, wheel cylinders, shoes, lines (hard and rubber) including E brake cables.

We've noticed when jacked up after the pedal is applied they drag hard, but let it sit for 15-20 mins and drag is gone.

All lines have been bled and have no air and the pedal feels good and hard.

The only thing left to replace is the distribution valve.

Does this make sense?

Occasionally the brake lines can get 'crap in them', or if you didn't replace the hoses they can kink (weak from being beat up for years) or build up enough junk (hose scabs) to 'shut them off' then bleed back down after they sit for a while.

Good Luck,


-D.idiot

I had my front brakes drag after I put discs on the car. As it turns out the brake light switch was keeping the pedal pushed down enough to cover the relief port in the master cylinder. Exact same symptoms you describe except on the front.

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Joshua

Hey J-Mac welcome to the board, now stop following me. If anyone can help you with your brake problems it's this group. My money is still on your proportioning valve or a bad master. Did you get a re-man or a new one. The re-mans are often junk out of the box. Good luck.

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Hey, thanks guys. We replaced the rear flexible hose and they are releasing, not getting hot anymore. It looked good on the outside, but must have been hiding some junkbunnies or collapsing inside.

Haha, just remember pat, you did this to yourself! Thanks

I thought you posted you changed all the lines, hard and rubber.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

No, I just bought the car. Obviously I didn't do it, and obviously I was mistaken! Grats on the catch, you wanna cookie or something?

Just bringing that up, because it might have eliminated a possible sugestion, for a cure.
Chocolette Chip cookies are always good.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Haha... alright, sorry I ruined the riddle. Oh yeah, and I ate all the cookies.

The good thing is that the rear brakes seems to be fine now... except now I notice that there's a knocking noise in the front drivers side when I apply the brake, which gets further apart as the car slows to a stop.

... can you tell we're not brake people?

That sounds like a warped drum or maybe even a bad wheel bearing. It is drums up front, isn't it? Otherwise a warped rotor will give the same pulsation. If you guys aren't brake people like you say then you should really take your car to a shop and have them look everything over, adjust your shoes and give the front end a wiggle while it's on the hoist to see if there's any play.

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