Brakes

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keegansquarebody

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michigan
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Keegan
Truck Year
1987
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R1500
Engine Size
5.0 V8 305
I have been through 4 master cylinders and finally believe I have the correct one. I can get brake fluid consistently to the front and when the bleeder screw is cracked the pedal drops. When I loosen the back the pedal doesn’t drop and air is always in the lines no matter how much we bleed it. There is no brake fluid leaks at all. We took it for a drive to work some air out and the pedal goes to the floor but still works. When we were done driving it the rear brakes were hot so they activated a little but not much. I was thinking it was a pushrod in the vacuum booster to master cylinder but it wasnt. I cant bleed these stupid brakes. I just checked and the parts store gave me a wheel cylinder for 11 by 2 inch brakes when I have 11.25 by 2.75 brakes. Could this be causing all of our problems or what is the problem?
 

Grit dog

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Auburn, Washington
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Todd
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1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
That could be the problem but if you can’t get fluid to the back brakes the proportioning valve is tripped. Just replace it anyways. Old truck.
 

SquareRoot

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Arizona
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Mike
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85
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K20
Engine Size
350
You can thank me later. Having the correct parts is on you.
 

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fast 99

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Spokane, Washington
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Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
That could be the problem but if you can’t get fluid to the back brakes the proportioning valve is tripped. Just replace it anyways. Old truck.
Agree with the possible diagnosis. Question replacing the valve unless it has some other obvious issue. Read several posts about new PV's leaking or just plain failing. One failure was on a TV series, leaked. Most of the valves are offshore production.
 

PrairieDrifter

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North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
Yeah keep your original proportioning valve. Or source a good used factory one if it comes to that.
 

Ken B

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indiana
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ken
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
250
the pv tool that centers the pv while bleeding helps. I went thru 1 new chinese prop valve then spent a little more on a 2nd one and it didnt leak
 

Oldbear42

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Location
Linden, Alberta, Canada
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Shaine
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C20 LWB Scottsdale
Engine Size
350
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I got to change mine out a week AFTER installing the rad and fan shroud, but the new inner fenders were not installed yet. I didn't know my old body could still bend like that.
 

Rustisbest

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Location
Athens, TN
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
377
the pv tool that centers the pv while bleeding helps. I went thru 1 new chinese prop valve then spent a little more on a 2nd one and it didnt leak
What brand was the good one? I'm gonna need one soon for rear discs
 

Rustisbest

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Location
Athens, TN
First Name
Matt
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
377
Get NOS,or junkyard Cadillac Seville or Olds Toronoado
Junkyards vehicles around here are in a grown up fields and mudholes sitting on the ground with no wheels. One even has a couple guard donkeys lol. Not worth the hassle anymore.
 

cornholeeo

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usa
First Name
corn
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
454
my 77 c-20 w13x2.5 rr shoes, has a stock PV that has centering pin that needs to be held in with a clip that i made, to properly bleed the brakes. Bleed all 4 corners pull the clip and your good to go
 

ali_c20

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Austria
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Alexander
Truck Year
1974, 1979
Truck Model
C20, K5
Engine Size
350, 350
I had luck with summit brand proportioning valves. Work as expected and no leaks.
 

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