New Guy with Brake Problems
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4
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New Guy with Brake Problems
Hello all,
I recently purchased an '84 F-150 with a 302 (4x4). The brakes were soft with a lot of pedal travel (the master cylinder was also leaking from the rear as well a one of the rear wheel cylinders leaking).
I replaced the m/c and both wheel cylinders. The soft pedal got worse. I suspected another bad master cylinder (it was a re-built unit). I replaced it with a new one. The rear shoes have been adjusted properly, the front pads checked, and the master cylinder and brakes have been pressure bled 4 times.
Here's the current symptoms;
Good brake pedal with engine off
Pedal travels to floor with engine on
I can lock up the rear brakes if I hit the pedal hard (still goes to floor)
Pumping doesn't change anything
Any ideas what to look for? I did a search, and couldn't find anything specific.
Thanks
I recently purchased an '84 F-150 with a 302 (4x4). The brakes were soft with a lot of pedal travel (the master cylinder was also leaking from the rear as well a one of the rear wheel cylinders leaking).
I replaced the m/c and both wheel cylinders. The soft pedal got worse. I suspected another bad master cylinder (it was a re-built unit). I replaced it with a new one. The rear shoes have been adjusted properly, the front pads checked, and the master cylinder and brakes have been pressure bled 4 times.
Here's the current symptoms;
Good brake pedal with engine off
Pedal travels to floor with engine on
I can lock up the rear brakes if I hit the pedal hard (still goes to floor)
Pumping doesn't change anything
Any ideas what to look for? I did a search, and couldn't find anything specific.
Thanks
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
No, don't hear any hissing. I thought the booster might be bad, but I had a better brake pedal prior to doing any repairs. That makes me think it has something to do with the repairs I made or the bleeding of the brakes. But after pressure bleeding with 12-15 psi and getting clear bubble free fluid at all four wheels, I'm leaninging towards something else.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,979
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From: Virginia
Also make sure the rear brakes are adjusted correctly.
Lift the rear wheels off the ground and take your hand and roll the tire back and forth while you are turning the star adjuster wheel. Even though the shoes will rub, keep adjusting the adjuster till it locks the wheel up. Then back the adjuster off till you can move the tire again, but the shoes still rub slightly.
Sometimes you can tell if the rear brakes are not adjusted, by pulling on the e-brake. If pulling the e-brake gives you a higher pedal, then they are not adjusted right.
Lift the rear wheels off the ground and take your hand and roll the tire back and forth while you are turning the star adjuster wheel. Even though the shoes will rub, keep adjusting the adjuster till it locks the wheel up. Then back the adjuster off till you can move the tire again, but the shoes still rub slightly.
Sometimes you can tell if the rear brakes are not adjusted, by pulling on the e-brake. If pulling the e-brake gives you a higher pedal, then they are not adjusted right.
