Brake job question???

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Guys,

This has probably been dscussed before, but I couldn't find it.
I upgraded from manuel to power brakes, but they have never been quite right since the swap.
I am wanting to get everything working at optimum performance.

How do I adjust the brake pedal travel ???
When bleeding vacum assist brakes is it better to bleed the brakes with the engine running or not ???

Thanks again,
KaptnKA S

[70_F100]

What year vehicle was your donor truck? Some don't have any adjustment on the push rod.

As for bleeding, it doesn't matter whether the engine is running or not.

[kaptnkaos]

The donor was a later '71 after the mid year change on steering components...
which shouldn't have any affect on the brake system.
There is no adjustment on either rod (one on the MC and one connects to the peddle).

I didn't get very far on my brake work today...
Right now, I have the camper on the truck, in order to get the truck axels of the ground to adjust the brakes, I had to get the weight off of the truck... which means jacking up the camper a few inches.
Normally that isn't a problem... however, I had two of the camper jacks freeze up on me.
I spent all afternoon try to get the camper jacks workin'
Tomorrow, after church, I'm gonna swap the hydraulic jacks for some manual ones I have.

KaptnKA S

[cep62]

There is no adjustment on either rod (one on the MC and one connects to the peddle).

Are you sure? The adjustment on the pedal is usually a eccentric headed bolt .
Loosen the nut and then turn the bolt and see if the rod moves a little.
A little movement on top can move the pedal quite a bit .

[kaptnkaos]

Hey cep62 ,

I just put that back together today. It has a shoulder type bolt.
About 1inch or so of it is smooth, not tapered or eccentric.
Then it steps down to the threaded part.
It just tightens and loosens... I didn't see any movement in the peddle as I tightened the nut.

KaptnKA S

[fordman]

so why arent you happy with it. does the pedal have too much slack before it starts to grab or is it too low to the floor to begin with. or i mean lower than it was with manual brakes.

[cep62]

About 1inch or so of it is smooth, not tapered or eccentric.
Then it steps down to the threaded part.

It's been awhile since I've had one of ours apart.
But I remember on a '60 where the bolt steps down the threads are off center so it would change where the rod and pedal meet. If you cant find a solution , maybe you could find a older truck in the junk yard and retro fit it.

[70_F100]

On my 70, the original push rod to the booster had an adjustment in the rod.