brake question 94 volvo wia

fastlap

Senior Member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
108
It seems that whin I raise my ride heights (just a little 1.5" ) my brakes do not function properly !
at initial pedal their fine but then I have to push much harder than normal and then all of a sudden their on almost fully bang like a toggle switch !
can anyone shed light on this , I dont understand the system but they seem to work better with normal to low ride ht? T
 
Truck is a factory single axel and it has not been streched or modified for the conversion , it was always like this but I did not mind running low ride ht till the conversion was put on now it looks funny that way and I need more clearance !
 
Maybe you all know this already but if you are like me then you will be so happy to learn this!
On a tractor (most not all ) your brakes will act funny while bobtailing !
symtoms are initaial braking ok then too much pressure required on pedal then bang way too much brake and coffey spilling and wife yelling and saying words like you better not drive a race car any more if thats the best you can do with the pedal!

Cure , use glad hand plugs and always push the trailer brake in (red knob) in at all times (bobtailing ) or conversion without air brake trailer !
Effect.> a pedal you can modulate giving perfect progressive braking at all times! unbelievable difference (I dont know why) but WOW I whish I new about this 15 years ago , I would have alot less gray hair! T
 
Wish I new that when I had my last conversion. My brakes where just as you described. Light braking was ok, hard braking and you better hang on, because when they hit we where coming to a stop like now!

With my new conversion, we did not add the air connections for a trailer. The brakes are awesome!

Great info fastlap
 
...one other issue.....warm up the brakes a little of get the surface rust off of the shoes and drums before heading out on the highway-drag them lightly for a few blocks during warm up.....rust causes the drums to lock a little and they get quite sticky.....'specially new ones on an older truck.....geofkaye
 
The proportioning valve on the truck thinks that there is a trailer attached so it brakes in a completely different manner when the trailer valve is pushed in. It does make for smoother braking all the way around.
Wick
 

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