The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline '41 pick-up brake pedal won't come up

I've been working hard to bleed the brakes - and I think I have all of the air out - but the pedal still isn't there like it should be. Does the master cylinder need to be bled on these trucks? If so, how? Any other suggestions?

Do you have a return spring on the pedal?

Yes, it's in the master cylinder. The pedal comes back to the undepressed position, but it doesn't have any pressure to it until it's almost to the floor. That's what I meant in the post. It can be pumped up a little more by repeatedly pumping it but not near where I think it should be to have decent brakes. It's like there is still some air somewhere in the system even though I have been around and around the truck many times bleeding the brakes at the wheel cylinders. That's why I asked about the MC.

To me it sounds like you need to take a step back and eliminate other possibilities.
Remove the brake line from the master and plug the hole. If you don't have a plug, cut an old brake line an inch or so beyond the fitting and crimp the line over.
once plugged, a couple of quick pumps will clear any air bubble. Now feel the pedal, it should have a short throw to be solid.
If it isn't right, take a piece of string and tie the brake to the steering wheel at full height. Now go look at the linkage. The pushrod should be no more than 1/4 " off the face of the piston in the master. If not, fix the linkage.
I believe there should be an additional pedal return spring from the pedal to the frame or body to return the pedal all the way up.

Do you have all the brake shoes adjusted up on all 4 wheels?

There is an external return spring required for both the break and clutch pedal on the 41 to 46 pick up trucks. Not the master cylinder internal spring.

Sure you're not thinking of the clutch pedal return spring? I can't remember hooking up any external spring for the brake pedal. The brake pedal returns to the up position without any external spring that I can see. It just feels like it is compressing air instead of pushing thru brake fluid when the pedal is pushed down. It's spongy.

The brake pedal pushrod is adjusted as you described. The shoes were adjusted like the shop manual said.

I bled the master cylinder today thru the fluid outlet hole and the plugged hole on the bottom side (but not both at once), then I re-bled all the lines at the wheel cylinders. It helped a little but it still isn't right. I can get a little brake now if the pedal is pumped up a few times in succession.

There is a return spring required. I can send you a picture. give me your email address. You can also look at the parts houses and you'll see a return spring part for sale. [email protected]

Jim Carter Part # Item # MEB113

That's for '47-54 trucks. I'm working on a '41.

I got the problem solved: the brake shoes weren't adjusted right. Thanks anyway.