Manual Brake Help
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Manual Brake Help
I just switched over from power brakes to manual brakes. The master cylinder and pushrod are installed. How do I determine the correct length the pushrod should be (it’s an adjustable pushrod). Is there any way to figure this out while the system has no brake fluid in it and the brake lines are unhooked? The pushrod is hooked to the top most hole on the brake peddle (the bottom one was used for my power brakes). Any help is greatly appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Johnston Iowa
Hey Bence I see you have it installed.
Did you have to drill the new hole on the pedal arm or was there one already there? What I did was mount the clevis to the pedal arm and then ran the rod through the firewall so that it touched the spot on the master cylinder where it pushes in on it at. After that I then positioned the break pedal where I wanted it to be for the hieght I wanted and marked the rod so that I new how much to take off it. I wanted as much of the threaded rod in the clevis as possible. It takes quite a bit of pressure to push in the master so I do not think it is any big deal for the rod to touch it. Also call the guys at the place I told you about.
Did you have to drill the new hole on the pedal arm or was there one already there? What I did was mount the clevis to the pedal arm and then ran the rod through the firewall so that it touched the spot on the master cylinder where it pushes in on it at. After that I then positioned the break pedal where I wanted it to be for the hieght I wanted and marked the rod so that I new how much to take off it. I wanted as much of the threaded rod in the clevis as possible. It takes quite a bit of pressure to push in the master so I do not think it is any big deal for the rod to touch it. Also call the guys at the place I told you about.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 7
From: Brazos TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
With manual brakes you are going to want as much pedal travel as possible so you should keep the free play down to a minimum. Just keep in mind that you need at least a little free play otherwise you will have the brakes dragging. Give it 1/4" of free play and make sure the pedal is against the return stop (all the way released) when you do it.
