Brake Question...
Moderators: TomM, Moderator, wesk
Brake Question...
I recently took the M-38 CDN out for a spin... While out and about the brake pedal started "Pulsing" when the brakes were applied. Brakes worked just pulsed. I am thinking something has come loose or gotten water in it and pulsed as it heated up. Has anyone seen this before and possibly point me in a direction... Figure I would ask as the jeep is outside and not in the garage - there is another there so cannot move it inside to work on it...
Thanks
Thanks
Hal, KB1ZQ
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK
I doubt Hal has a disc brake conversion! I have to agree with Brett on the drum issues.
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
Not Disc Brakes, wish they were... I had to replace a drum a while back and got one from one of the vendors... Cheap Chinese Junk... Has less than 100 miles on it and it appears to have gone to pot...
Will try to get it checked out today. Temps in the 50's before the Ice Box opens this weekend...
Will advise, thanks for the opinions, helps me stay on track...
Will try to get it checked out today. Temps in the 50's before the Ice Box opens this weekend...
Will advise, thanks for the opinions, helps me stay on track...
Hal, KB1ZQ
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK
If it is the drums, check out this old thread...
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... ic&t=10815
Cheers, Jeff
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... ic&t=10815
Cheers, Jeff
1951 M38 restoration project - Flightline Jeep MC 23923 DoD 6-51
1954 M-100 Trailer USMC Dunbar Kapple s/n M-750759 DoD 1-54
1947 Willys CJ2A - Harvest Green
1954 Ford F-100 Parts chaser - blueprinted Y-Block
Southeast Florida
1954 M-100 Trailer USMC Dunbar Kapple s/n M-750759 DoD 1-54
1947 Willys CJ2A - Harvest Green
1954 Ford F-100 Parts chaser - blueprinted Y-Block
Southeast Florida
Well, I replaced the suspected drum and that was not the problem...
I even had a neighbor come over and assist me with bleeding the entire brake system thinking I might have water or air in the lines... Still no go...
I then jacked up the jeep and started looking at all the drums, they all appear to be good (I spun the wheels and watched the drums to see if they varied in diameter; crude but it worked). I spun the Driver's rear and had material fall out of the gap between the Backing plate and drum, also there was a dragging noise in the drum.
Took the wheel and drum off and found the brake shoes have totally disintegrated. The linings had completely come off the shoes and lodged in one spot. The drum was full of dust and debris. I removed the shoes and cleaned the area with a brush and canned air, then proceeded to install a new set of shoes.
No more pumping of the brake pedal. I can again lock up all four wheels and stop on a dime as they say.
Next good day I think I will pull the Passenger side and check the shoes there, as I only changed the driver's side at this time... ran out of time and daylight...
Thanks for the input on a definite safety problem...

Would have posted photos but could not get the site to take my photo... EDITED _ Photo was too big of a file - FIXED...
I even had a neighbor come over and assist me with bleeding the entire brake system thinking I might have water or air in the lines... Still no go...
I then jacked up the jeep and started looking at all the drums, they all appear to be good (I spun the wheels and watched the drums to see if they varied in diameter; crude but it worked). I spun the Driver's rear and had material fall out of the gap between the Backing plate and drum, also there was a dragging noise in the drum.
Took the wheel and drum off and found the brake shoes have totally disintegrated. The linings had completely come off the shoes and lodged in one spot. The drum was full of dust and debris. I removed the shoes and cleaned the area with a brush and canned air, then proceeded to install a new set of shoes.
No more pumping of the brake pedal. I can again lock up all four wheels and stop on a dime as they say.
Next good day I think I will pull the Passenger side and check the shoes there, as I only changed the driver's side at this time... ran out of time and daylight...
Thanks for the input on a definite safety problem...

Would have posted photos but could not get the site to take my photo... EDITED _ Photo was too big of a file - FIXED...
Last edited by OKCM38CDN on Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hal, KB1ZQ
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK
It has to be a JPEG and it's file size must be reasonable (0 - 800K) and it must be hosted online already in your album here or elsewhere (must be public).
This makes a good brake troubleshooting lesson. In all the shops I have worked in since the 1960's when a customer brought in a brake complaint we normally test drove it, then put her on the lift and pulled all four brake drums and properly inspected the entire system. Step one and step two every time!
This makes a good brake troubleshooting lesson. In all the shops I have worked in since the 1960's when a customer brought in a brake complaint we normally test drove it, then put her on the lift and pulled all four brake drums and properly inspected the entire system. Step one and step two every time!

Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
I do not see any rivet holes in the shoe material. Just me personally but with two flat surfaces like that I would not trust just glue to hold it together. As far as I know all the original, and every brake shoe I remember seeing has had rivets. I am sure Wes will chime in with a more informed view. 

Carievale Saskatchewan Canada
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php