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Followup To
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Followup To
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My brakes on my 56 Ford Victoria are manual, not power brakes. I have 3 inch play in the brake pedel and have to stand on the brakes to stop the car. The wheel cylinders all seem to be free. I've taken the wheels off and all the parts are in good shape. Could this be something with the master cylinder? How would you remedy this? thank you
Answer -
If the pedal is firm, just too low, you need to adjust your brake shoes. If you don't know how to do this, you probably need to get someone to show you how. It takes a special tool, called a "Brake spoon", and there is a rubber plug that has to be removed from each backing plate to allow access to the star wheel.
The car has to be raised off the ground so that the wheels can spin free. You can do one wheel at a time, in any order, but be sure to use a good quality safety stand - don't trust ANY jack.
I recommend tightening each star wheel until the wheel gets very hard to turn by hand, then back off 8 clicks. There will still be a small amount of drag, but that will go away in a few miles.
This should bring the pedal back up to normal height. This car does not have self adjusting brakes -those came in much later, so this adjustment should be done every few thousand miles, or when the pedal seems too low.
There is supposed to be about 3/8 inch free play in the linkage before the metal push rod contacts the piston in the master cylinder, then there has to be some additional motion before the brakes begin to apply, but 3 inches total free play seems a bit excessive. However, non-power brakes always have more free play than power brakes - around 2 inches is pretty normal.
If the pedal seems spongy, your brakes need to be bled. Again, if you are not familiar with this operation, you need someone to help you the first time. If you want more information about this, post a follow up question and I'll give it a try. The brakes must be bled any time the hydraulic system has been opened, as air will get into the brake lines because air is a compressible medium.
Dick
Thank you Dick. I have done both of your suggestions and it has not changed the situation at all. Might you have more suggestions? thank you
Answer -
Is the brake pedal low, but firm, or is it spongy? How does the parking brake work - do you have to pull the handle all the way out, or does it grab with just a short stroke?
Dick
Hi Dick, The brake peddle is low but firm, and the emergency brake does grab with just a short stroke. I have adjusted the cam bolt on the brake peddle push rod and I gained about an inch on the free play so now I have about 2 inches free play and the brakes seem a little better. I'm comparing my brakes to a friends 55 ford that is identical to mine, except that it is a 55. His brakes work better as his free play is like a half inch compared to my 2 inch free play. What are your thoughts on this. Thanks Larry
AnswerYour friend's car seems a bit too tight on the brake adjustment - there should be about 3/8 inch free play before you feel an increase in resistance as the plunger rod contacts the piston in the master cylinder, and then a further inch to inch and a half until you begin to get braking action. With his car, I'd be concerned that he is having some brake drag, especially when the brakes and the fluid heats up, because I think the check valve opening may not be fully exposed in his brake master cylinder. I'd advise him to double check his pedal linkage to make sure he has the 3/8 inch free play before he can feel the plunger hit the piston, as described above.
Your car seems about right to me, if those measurements are accurate. In any case, since the pedal is firm, and the car stops well (I assume), I don't think you need to worry about anything.
Dick
