'72 Scamp Can I just fix the front brakes to get it home?

dgfalk said

My bad here, I didn't explain myself to well. I've done countless brake jobs on modern cars with power disk brakes, replaced rotors, pads, calipers etc.

I'm just new to manual brakes and drum rotors. What caught my eye is the master cylinder that shares the same resevor. Not sure if having bad rears will effect working fronts.

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What happened when the brakes quit? Were they working and then suddenly not? How long had you been driving? Or was it parked?

I've had hoses go bad and when they got hot they'd either lock the brakes or make them not work. You might get in it and find they suddenly work. Take it easy and get it home in that case.

There's not much to these brake systems. If it's not the hoses, the master or the wheel cylinders are the most likely culprit. Wheel cylinders can be a bear since they tend to be rusted in place and getting the flare nut out often results in damaging things. Also, new parts for old cars tend to be good out of the box about 30% of the time these days, so I'd buy an extra spare of any part or kit you get and expect to finish 50% of the job which might be enough to get home.

Hardest part on the roadside will be bleeding it all. Bringing a helper will go a long way.