Brake Pedal Does Not Fully Release.

derek7871 · Post by **derek7871** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:43 am

Sometimes the brake pedal does not come all the way back up. It stays down just enough to keep the brake lights lit up in the back. I've had a couple of dead batteries from this. Is there an adjustment that I can make to the pedal, or is it just worn out? '68, 360 cid, 3 on the tree, manual brakes.

Cooter

heep70 · Post by **heep70** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 7:24 am

Isn't there a return spring on the pedal arm? You should also be able move the plunger switch back a tad of the pedal arm.

hoss103 · Post by **hoss103** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 9:43 am

heep70 wrote:Isn't there a return spring on the pedal arm? You should also be able move the plunger switch back a tad of the pedal arm.

Hmm, is there supposed to be a return spring on the brake pedal arm? Mine doesn't- when I had the master cylinder out, the pedal just hung straight down.

My brake light switch works fine without a return spring, though, so I'd check the switch adjustment.

72stepside · Post by **72stepside** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:47 am

Mine got that way. I installed a return spring from the upper part of the pedal lever to the bottom of the dash, tucked out of the way. It didn't have one before that I saw.

I kept having a problems with the plastic threads on the switch getting ruined because the pedal would slam back up (even before I added the spring. I installed the switch with the little nut provided, then screwed a large castle nut on there to absorb the impact, but still let the little plunger stick through enough to activate the switch. Ford could have done a little better on that design in my opinion.

FoMoCo · Post by **FoMoCo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:38 am

I've not seen a 68 with a brake pedal return spring. maby your master cylinder needs replaced. There's a healthy sized spring in the M/C, mady worn or the M/C is getting rough.

Nick

derek7871 · Post by **derek7871** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:46 am

Thanks for the replies. The master cylinder is only about 1 year old, so hopefully that's not the problem. I'll look under the dash more and make sure there's not a spring, or holes where a spring might go.

Cooter

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:46 pm

Best give the pivot bushing a good look they may be binding stoping then pedal from moving smothly.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:00 pm

Wes wrote:Best give the pivot bushing a good look they may be binding stoping then pedal from moving smothly.

Are there replacements for these? I know mine need them.

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Brake Pedal Does Not Fully Release.

Brake Pedal Does Not Fully Release.

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re: Brake Pedal Does Not Fully Release.

re: Brake Pedal Does Not Fully Release.