The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Brakes...am I asking too much ?

Having converted my 49 half ton to IFS with front disc set up and power boosted two chamber MC I'm still disappointed with the brakes. The peddle just does not even begin to apply braking until I'm a bit over half way to the floor ! To me, that's more than a bit unacceptable cuz there's not that much peddle left when I stop. Before I began this upgrade there was plenty of peddle but that was with 1949 technology, single chamber MC, and all the rest that was stock in 49.

My wrench guy is good but really frustrated and at a loss at what to do to improve the situation. Am I expecting too much here ? It just makes me goosey to be so near the floor before I get a firm stop. The MC was bench bled and all four wheels bled in succession. The MC and boost set up is from a 67 Corvette power brake system...all NIB. Disc front..drum rear.

make sure you have enough vac to operate the booster. also check the adjustment of your rear pads. I have had this problem before and it has always been one of the two.

daren

Dogface;

Did you switch the proportioning valve. Not sure of the details but when you swap in one set of discs and leave a set of drums the valve is different. If you bought the IFS as a kit, the valve is usually included. If it was a bone yard find, you'll need a new one. Hopefully someone that knows the specifics will post.

Just a thought.

Not enough vacuum will cause a hard pedal not a low one. Assuming all the air is truly out of the system, I would adjust up the rear brakes first. Then, check if there is an adjustment on the rod between the pedal and the mc. Next i would isolate both calipers and rear wheel cyl from the master, Then see if your pedal is solid. if it is, you have a problem at one of the wheels. isolate them individually to determine which wheel your problem is at.

I agree with JCKN, isolate will make it easier to diagnose .

daren

Is your brake booster and set up now on the firewall, or still under the truck?

Did you install a 2 pound residual valve for the front brakes and a 10pound residual valve for the rear drum brakes?

Booster and MC are underneath. I'll have to ask about the residual valves...