Jim & plym_46,

Thanks for the input. I pulled the front drums/hub combo and everything seems normal. I ordered a puller, so that I can pull the rear drums and check things out.

Regards,
Pat O'Connor

I once had catastrophic brake shoe failure. The symptoms were different. First the brakes locked up then the pedal would have to be pumped several times before the car would slow down.

I was told that brake shoe linings get old and brittle and I assume that's what happened. When I took the right front brake drum off, the linings had disintegrated.

I would do as Plym 46 says and start pulling the drums and have a "look see". Brakes are about the most important system in the car, I wouldn't mess with ones I was not 100% confident with.

Don't know what the crack might have been, but I would start by pulling the wheels and taking a look at thing in general.  Then I would pull the front drums and check stuff out.  I don;t think I would be driving it till I checked it out.  Could be a broken return spring.

Hi all,
I took my '36 on a poker run a while back; at one point, when I appled the brakes, I heard a "crack"; after that, the brake pedal would pulsate and stopping distance increased. We were close to home, so I slowed down and drove it on home. I've been out on the back roads since then, testing it, and I noticed that when the brake pedal pushes against my foot, it feels like the car is coasting.

Several years ago, I heard a similar "crack" noise on a rough road; that time, it was caused by a broken front spring leaf. My "modern" (copyright 1989) brake manual suggests the following for a pulsating pedal: worn front wheel bearings, out-of-round drums, loose wheel bearings, bent rear axle, and brake drum loose on hub.

Any thoughts/ideas/"I had this problem" stories  will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Pat O'Connor