(Mostly) Successful maiden voyage!

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Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
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Took the Wagon out for it's first trip around the block and found my first (and hopefully only) snag so far. The driver's side disc brakes are dragging for some reason, and it feels like the car is dragging a boat anchor behind it. This weekend I'll pull the wheel off, inspect it, and figure out what the problem is.

I've already got an idea of what the problem is, and therefore I may already have a solution. When I put the axles in, it appeared as though in order to get the bearings flush with the mounting surface, I had to use one of the provided spacers on the driver's side, but not on the passenger side. This did in fact make the bearings flush with the mounting surface for the brake backing assembly as expected.

However, on the driver side where the spacer was used, I noticed that the disc brakes had a difficult time seating properly until the whole thing was secured down with the wheel and lug nuts. That's one possible reason for the problem.

Another possible cause is the emergency brake shoe being improperly adjusted, and thus not allowing the disc to seat all the way down properly.

One last, although unlikely cause is a bad caliper, though this I would suspect the least since it's a brand new rebuilt AC Delco unit.

Other than that, the car started, went into gear properly, moved (with relative ease considering the aforementioned brake issue) and stopped all like it was supposed to. It shifted, though in order to really know whether or not it's shifting properly, I'll have to fix the brake issue and try again.
Wew!
 
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1evilregal

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Apr 23, 2009
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did you change out the master cyl? the system keeps a residual pressure on the wheel cyl's in a drum system...
 
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Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
192
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did you change out the master cyl? the system keeps a residual pressure on the wheel cyl's in a drum system...
Actually, yes! The entire brake system is brand new with the exception of the brake pedal. All the lines have been replaced, the booster was replaced, master cylinder replaced, proportioning valve replaced, and rubber hose splitter at the back replaced. It all had to be either in order to work with properly with the Blazer brakes I installed, or because the old parts were well... old.
 

Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
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Interesting twist on the brake problem.

I was right about my first assumption, but wrong about the solution. The driver's side DOES have the spacer installed, but it's installed between the hub and the bearing meaning it's keeping the bearing flush with the flange by moving it further away from the hub. This means that if that spacer isn't there, the axle would still come out the same amount, except the bearing would NOT be flush, which it has to be, instead it would stick out the same amount of space as the spacer is thick (roughly 1/8"), which is bad. The bearing is what retains the axle in place since the bearing is up against the brake backing plate. So as far as the bearing and spacers are concerned, I installed them correctly.

What this means, is that the axle is the longer than the axle tube (relative to the passenger side) by same length as the spacer is thick. What I need is a spacer to go in between the flange, and the brake backing plate. Technically speaking, having not installed the spacer would work, since the backing plate would end up where it needs to be, but that would mean that the backing plate is NOT mounted to the flange, and is clamping down on the bearing, which is not good.

All in all, this is actually good news, because I originally thought I was going to have to cut the bearing off, and instead all I have to do is either buy a spacer from Moser, or make one.
 

Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
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Moser doesn't seem to sell the pattern that I'm using, which is the "Small GM Pattern" since most of those would normally use the backing plates to hold the bearing in place, like mine is.

So I sent them an e-mail about the problem, but in the meantime tomorrow I'm gonna probably buy some 1/8" thick aluminum at the hardware store and try to fabricate my own spacer.
 

1evilregal

Comic Book Super Hero
Apr 23, 2009
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Greensboro, NC
I figured you knew about the m/cyl, but sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to find the issue, we overlook the simple basics... I once spent 3 hours trying to diagnose an electrical issue on a customer's car that was known for electrical gremlins, only to find that I forgot to check the fuses first! they overloaded the circuit...

glad yo have it figured out, and are working on a solution!
 
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Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
192
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I figured you knew about the m/cyl, but sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to find the issue, we overlook the simple basics... I once spent 3 hours trying to diagnose an electrical issue on a customer's car that was known for electrical gremlins, only to find that I forgot to check the fuses first! they overloaded the circuit...

glad yo have it figured out, and are working on a solution!
Yeah, my wagon has gremlins of it's own. After I get it running I have to figure out why the blower motor isn't working. I already know why the doors don't actuate though... they ain't hooked up to vacuum yet! haha

I'm hoping and praying my A/C works once I get the blower motor running and get the system charged. I used aftermarket hoses for the V6, and bent the tubes so they would work with the V8, and everything seems good... but you know how these things go.
 

Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
192
43
It's funny because I went to Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, even Michael's arts and crafts store to find a 1/8" thick aluminum plate to make a spacer out of for my wagon's axle, and the only thing I could find was 1/8" thick aluminum bars which were the right thickness, but nowhere near wide enough to make the whole template out of.

It's crazy to think that I'm literally 1/8" away from being able to finally enjoy something I've worked years on, and the only place locally that has what I need is only open while I'm at work. On the bright side, they have an online store.

By the way if you do a lot of modding and fabricating - this website is a gold mine. They carry all sorts of raw materials for fabricating and sell it in reasonably small quantities if needed for really good prices.

https://www.onlinemetals.com/
 
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pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
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It's funny because I went to Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, even Michael's arts and crafts store to find a 1/8" thick aluminum plate to make a spacer out of for my wagon's axle, and the only thing I could find was 1/8" thick aluminum bars which were the right thickness, but nowhere near wide enough to make the whole template out of.

It's crazy to think that I'm literally 1/8" away from being able to finally enjoy something I've worked years on, and the only place locally that has what I need is only open while I'm at work. On the bright side, they have an online store.

By the way if you do a lot of modding and fabricating - this website is a gold mine. They carry all sorts of raw materials for fabricating and sell it in reasonably small quantities if needed for really good prices.

https://www.onlinemetals.com/

Do you have a Metal Supermarket close to you, they have just about anything you are looking for....
 
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