I saw a few other threads on this but no real feedback, so here goes.

So after a few months, my dad and i finally got my blazer to the point where we thought i could be my dd. Its been almost perfect until last night. We bought this blazer 100% stock from '76, the first thing we had problems with were the rear brakes, we thought the emergency brake wasnt fully disengaging, and was tightening up slightly after every time i pushed it in. We went through the whole rear end brakes, replaced return springs etc. and it seemed all good, until yesterday.

As i was driving it to school, i could feel the brake pedal losing slack (like there was more tension on it) so i made a mental note to tell my dad when i got home. Had to run a few errands after school, by the time i was driving home, i could feel the brakes locking up. I only drove it for 2 miles or less back home, but by the time i got on my street, i had to use granny gear just to get it in the driveway! I noticed the front brakes were smoking hot while the rears were just warm?? Maybe i was going after the wrong thing the whole time? Im at a loss for what to do next, my dad thinks it could be a return valve? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

You may have a bad caliper or, more likely, a bad flex line to one or both of the front wheels. If the flex lines have never been replaced to your knowledge, I would start there.

 

i would start with new brake hoses, the outside may look fine but after years of deterioration the liner can come loose acting like a check valve will let fluid to the caliper but not back to the master cylinder.

 

is the pedal returning all the way? like can you put your foot behind it and pull it up some. i know some of the older chevys especially the ones with hydroboost used a spring under the dash to help pull the pedal up

 

So i called a few places, I need longer brake lines for the lift were putting on it so im gonna order a stainless steel kit soon, hopefully that will solve the problem. I talked to one guy who said it could also be the proportioning valve causing the problems? Hopefully ill have the brake line on in the next couple of weeks and i wont have anymore problems. I'm gonna replace the calipers while im at it, there too cheap not to.

abig84, The brake pedal had no slack whatsoever, it was definitely returning all the way.