Hey my pops has a 65 Chevrolet Bel air...updated from non to power drums and now the steering wheel shakes all reckless. And the car dips and pulls left or right...once you drive the car fir an extended period of time it starts to get a little better...but it makes us not wanna drive the damn thing...what went wrong????
If the steering wheel shakes when braking, your drums are warped. A quick way to determine if its the fronts or the backs is to gently apply the E brake at low speed. If it brakes smoothly, its the fronts that are warped. Take them off and get them measured. Chances are they're going to be out of spec or "too thin" to cut. Expect to get new ones As far as the pulling, check the wheel cylinders. Chances are you have one that is frozen. While your there check the shoe linings. Check for heat cracks and glazing. If they check out, adjust them up
I'd agree with a warped brake drum for the shaking. However the OP mentioned this happened when he updated from non power to power brakes.... (meaning it wasn't shaking before but is now) If that's the case then I'm a bit stumped.
If it is pulling like that and randomly pulls from side to side, I would think you might have something in the lines/distribution valve that is moving around and only allowing pressure to one side or the other. If you also did the brakes, check to make sure you put them on correctly and that they are the same from side to side. Like putting one side on backwards.
Also check the mounting bolts that hold the brake assembly to the spindle. I had the same symptoms when I had one of the 3 bolts broken.
