Brake Pedal Position

[gglithox]

Could anyone tell me when brakes are bled correctly how far from the floor is normal for the brake pedal to be. Have good brakes but pedal seams to be close to the floor when engaged fully, about 1 1/2 inches and when not applied about 4 inches.

[george walker]

My truck has very little freeplay. Although your brakes might be completely bled its possible the shoes need adjusting, they arent self adjusting and excessive shoe to drum clearance translates into long pedal stroke.

[Warthog]

Don't forget to adjust the push rod free play at the pedal. The adjusting bolt is on top of the pedal assembly.

Wart Hog

[moosejr]

Most likely the brakes need adjusting at the wheels. These brakes are not self-adjusting, so occasionally you need to crawl under there with a brake spoon and tighen them up. Unless you changed master cylinders, you shouldn't need to adjust the master cylinder push rod. If the brake shoes are not adjusted correctly, you could pull to one side, or the shoes will wear unevenly, , . that is why you want to adjust at the wheels first. It sounds like from your measurements that they are needing adjustment, mine is about 3 inches or so fully depressed, and around 6 or so with no pressure. The pedal should drop less than an inch before you feel drag on the brakes.

[brute4c]

From the -34 manual, Chapter 16, section 16-6:

16-6. Brake Pedal Adjustment

There should always be at least 1/2” free pedal travel before the push rod engages the master cylinder piston.
This adjustment is accomplished at the brake mounting bracket.
To adjust free pedal travel, first loosen the adjusting bolt locknut. Turning the adjusting bolt in (clockwise) decreases the amount of free pedal travel, turning the adjusting bolt out (counterclockwise) increases the amount of free pedal travel.

Too great a free pedal travel prevents the push rod from bottoming against the master cylinder piston, giving excessive pedal travel before brake application. Not enough free pedal travel will prevent the primary cup in the master cylinder from clearing the by-pass port when the piston is in the released position. This will destroy the compensating action of the master cylinder for expansion and contraction of the fluid in the system due to temperature changes.


1. Brace 2 Nut 3 Lockwasher
4 Flat washer 5 Bolt 6 Adjusting bolt
7 Locknut 8 Flat washer 9 Nut
10 Nut & washer assembly 11 Retracting spring 12 Washer
13 Master cylinder push rod 14 Brake pedal 15 Brake pedal pad
16 Brake pedal bumper 17 Bushing 18 Capscrew
19 Brake pedal shaft 20 Brake pedal mounting bracket 21 Bolt

[wolf.dose]

It is a said, check the manual!