Brake pedal all the way down?

Crs · Apr 18, 2006

My 68 Stangs brake pedal goes almost all the way down but still stops. How do i know if this is my master cylinder, or my brakes need adjusting? I have non power disc brakes.
Thanks

jdowen2 · Apr 18, 2006

You could have a blown wheel cylinder. Check for leaks at the wheel cylinders. If no leaks try and adjust. I'd bet on the M/C though. You can get a rebuild kit, not a hard job.

Crs · Apr 18, 2006

I'll check on the wheel cylinders............if they're not leaking then i'll try to adjust.

68keyblr · Apr 18, 2006

Also check the cables - I had one slip off and had similar symptoms

ForceFed70 · Apr 19, 2006

Sounds like it could also just be a case of air in the lines. Have you bleed the brakes?

THX 138 · Apr 19, 2006

Crs said:
My 68 Stangs brake pedal goes almost all the way down but still stops. How do i know if this is my master cylinder, or my brakes need adjusting? I have non power disc brakes.
Thanks

mines the same but power brakes. Disk front, drum rear.

palerider94 · Apr 19, 2006

Replaced drums, adjusters, cylinders, brake hoses, spring kit, pads and bled the brakes - all 4 power drums. $500 dollars later and still goes down farther than I like - Kind of living with it now. Last thing I will proabably look at is the linkage.

mustangdave · Apr 19, 2006

Does your brake light come on?

Crs · Apr 19, 2006

Update.............................i just happened to pop the cover from the top of my master cylinder to find out that the 1st reservoir was empty...but the second was full. I added fluid and pumped the brake about 30 times with the car on and it feels back to normal. I'll drive it tomorrow and see if it holds up. Thanks for your info fellas.

Big_B · Apr 19, 2006

If it went empty you should probably rebleed them. At least that circuit anyway.
My 68 had a pedal feel like that since from the time we bought it (in '86) until two months ago, when I put discs on.

68keyblr · Apr 19, 2006

Also, if you replace the master cylinder without bench-bleeding it first, you will never get a solid pedal until it is properly bled out...

palerider94 · Apr 20, 2006

68keyblr - I did not bench bleed master cylinders but bled them once installed. Are you saying this a problem?

68keyblr · Apr 20, 2006

palerider94 said:
68keyblr - I did not bench bleed master cylinders but bled them once installed. Are you saying this a problem?

It could be yes. When I did my granada disc conversion, I installed a new master cylinder, filled it up with fluid, bled the brakes, but could not get a firm pedal no matter how much bleeding I did.

I finally broke down and took it to a really good local brake shop that specializes in classics. After telling them my story, they asked if I had bench bled the new master cylinder before installing it...I said "no" and they immediately gave each other that "knowing look" and confirmed that the pedal probably will never firm up without having done it.

If your pedal won't firm up after lots of bleeding, then this could be your problem.

Here's a good article I found on the subject:
http://www.misterfixit.com/brakbld1.htm

Good luck!

palerider94 · Apr 20, 2006

Thanks appreciate the link. After I check the linkage and if okay - I'll take a look at this next.

Brake pedal all the way down?

Crs

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That's why they call it "dope"

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My rearend needs a stud and two nuts.

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Brake pedal all the way down?

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