I have the 2001 Ram 1500, 5.9 gas 4x4...I am having a brakes issue, driving me nuts. Before, when cold, first starting out the drivers side wheel would lock up, drive for a few, it was fine. Ok, now, I just put new shoes on the back, drums turned, and even put a new wheel cylinder on drivers side. Now, I drive for 5 minutes, hit the brakes solidly, drivers side locks up..every time, all day. I have been told, and believe it has to be the proportioning valve... being every thing else is replaced. Agree/disagree? How do you bleed this puppy? ….there is a rubber cap on top, when brakes are applied, a valve like thing pops up, also one on the bottom, nothing happens with that one when brakes are applied.[still referring to the old valve still on the truck]..
ANY assistance is appreciated.

 

Nothing should pop up when you step on the brakes...... Is it puking any brake fluid? Which is locking up? Front, or rear?? How do the front brakes look?

 

What pops up is a small, almost like a valve core center, under the rubber cap on top of the proportioning valve [when wife steps on brake pedal]. No, nothing leaks out...there are no leaks anywhere, fronts are excellent, only drivers side rear locks up....releases as soon as I release the brake pedal...

 

Did you install the shoes with the one with the shorter friction surface on the front??

That part is indeed the proportioning valve.... I don't recall if it's actually supposed to do that.....

 

The shoes are correct.....again, since it is only the drivers side rear that does it, the proportioning valve is the only thing left, to my knowledge anyway.
I have one ordered, any idea how to bleed this puppy? I wonder if that little valve thingy on top is what I depress to let air out

 

Proportioning valve has nothing to do with brake balance left to right. The rear is a single circuit. May wanna check adjustment on the rears. May have the drivers side too tight.

 

My local shop said that as well, problem is, it is backed all the way off, the drum is now so loose, when I take the wheel off, the drum practically falls off it's so loose..again, only the drivers side, new shoes, turned drum, and new wheel cylinder. I to thought the valve controls front/rear, not individually, but I have "0" ideas left, I just know when I apply the brakes, the drivers side grabs immediately...….

 

You only replaced one wheel cylinder?? There are a selection that will bolt in place..... but, they are different sizes. (internal diameter) If the wheel cylinders aren't matched, you will have unbalanced brakes. Take a look at the dust boots on the cylinders, make sure both cylinders have the same style boots. If they don't, change the other one.

 

I'm trying to picture in my head what's happening here. I don't think I've ever seen the button pop up on a proportioning valve. I know it will as I've tuned brakes and had to pop it up by hand (well, pliers) but I've never seen one do it by itself. Are the right rear brakes working okay? Has this truck been hauled on a trailer or pulled something out of a ditch with a chain around the axle tube? I ask just to make sure there's no damage to the steel line going to the right brake. Personally, if I change or rebuild one wheel cylinder, I do the other one also just to keep everything balanced. The brake shoes are clean aren't they? If the wheel cylinder leaked, brake fluid can cause it to grab. How is the brake cable for the parking brakes? Working normally? It may be the prop valve, although that's rare. Otherwise, I'm thinking there's something simple causing your issues.

 

Everything appears to be the same, but remember, it started doing this, that's why I replaced the one cylinder....