Soft brake pedal
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Trailering
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Soft brake pedal
04 escape: replaced M/C (bench bled) new front rotors,new right rear wheel cylinder,new rear shoes, new rubber brake lines on all four,had abs cycled by computer and I still have a soft/travel brake pedal. Any suggestions would be great. It does stop but pedal is soft and I gravity bled it all day seems like no air in the lines.Daughters car so it sits until I feel it is safe. Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 358
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Did you manually adjust up the rear shoes, long travel easily/normally caused by excessive shoe travel, the self-adjuster often doesn't or needs some help after brake work. Easiest if you don't know is pop the drums off and rotate the star wheel until the drum only just fits on over the shoes then retest...
This is easy to miss if you are used to working on all-disc systems.
This is easy to miss if you are used to working on all-disc systems.
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Trailering
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
The mechanic told me he did,but I went and took off the drum and checked them again. The drum is tight going on maybe I will try to adjust them out some more until I can hear some drag on the wheel then back it off a click or two when I get home and see if that makes a difference. Thanks for your reply
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 358
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When you have the drum off check it for a wear edge, this can make the drum tight to remove/replace over the shoes but still allow additional shoe movement space once assembled that gives excessive pedal travel.
There is also a rubber bung in the brake backplate close to the star wheel. Once you know which way to rotate the star wheel to close the shoe clearance you can remove the bung and access/adjust the star wheel through the small opening with the drum on. You have to know what you are trying to do as its mostly blind and by feel but possible. Replace the bung afterwards ;-)
There is also a rubber bung in the brake backplate close to the star wheel. Once you know which way to rotate the star wheel to close the shoe clearance you can remove the bung and access/adjust the star wheel through the small opening with the drum on. You have to know what you are trying to do as its mostly blind and by feel but possible. Replace the bung afterwards ;-)
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 13
From: Upstate NY
Wear edge - AKA a lip on the outer part of the drum that prevents easy removal or installation of the drum over the shoes. The larger the lip, the more adjustment required to have the shoes properly seat on the drum and if not adjusted, results in more pedal movement/soft feel due to the increased movement of the shoes required to engage the brake.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 13
From: Upstate NY
Ideally, there should be no lip or wear edge. I'm personally not a fan of having drums turned to remove the lip. The cost of a new drum is not much more than the cost to turn one.
Always do brakes in pairs minimum. Both front or both back. Never just one side.
Always do brakes in pairs minimum. Both front or both back. Never just one side.
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