Hard brake pedal

IvanT28

IvanT28

Junior Member
Hey ya'll, Had a hard brake pedal with no 1" free play. 28' special coupe. Had a brake job done a year ago. All new guts on the backing plate, (I mean everything) and new cast iron drums. Decided to do a better brake adjustment then what had been done. The brakes work great now. Just like the book. Full on - rears lock & fronts grab, no pull left or right. Had to change rod lengths to get it that way and the brakes seems a little softer. But I have no free play. !/4" at the most. I can drive it like this fine, but what would cause that? Linkage to tight?? Return springs are working, can't pull the pedal back any further. It has a N/S cross shaft, correct 15 degree tilt on actuator arm. I used a brake board for adjustment. Could barely get the pedal to move the 2" required. Is that normal? I read some where that ol' Henry had an inch of free play designed into that whole mess of marvelous mechanical lingage. I guess I lost mine some where. Any ideas are welcome.
 
Isn't 1" for the clutch pedal ? The brakes are around 1/4" to 3/8" if memory serves for pedal slop. Also,check the brake light operation when the pedal is depressed. The pedals should align with each other when retracted.
 
We have always adjusted to one inch or so of peddle play. Good point about brake light. Not enough play and light might not go on. Enjoy.
 
Search Brake Adjustment!
Purdy Swoft & I both wrote LENGTHY articles on proper brake adjustment. FORGET the BOARD, it's USELESS, who in the WORLD would want the rear brakes locking up FIRST (DANGEROUS!) I don't care about what Henry "thought"-----
Bill Opinionated
 
Well I did have a problem with the brake light switch until I elongated the screw holes for mounting it. Pedals are uneven, brake pedal being 3/4" closer to seat. I think I'll readjust for front and rears coming on together and call it good. She stops, and I don't worry to much about the idiot pulling out in front of me like I don't exist.
 
Ivan. Would your 28 happen to be a VERY Early 28? One that has the four wheel braking system? The emergency brake handle is next to the driver side cowl? I'm new to the site and I posted yesterday for anyone with an early model 28. Desperate for info on that brake system. I can't seem to find anything as of yet. Bought all the books and all they say is that the early model has what I already know I have. No specific info. Called several parts suppliers and they all say "the 28 brakes are all the same" They are not. Any help? Harold.
 
You adjust the early 28 service brakes just the same as the later Model A brakes. Don't worry about the parking brake adjustment, as that just pulls all 4 service brakes the same as the foot pedal does.
 
As long as your brakes are not dragging, why do anything. You can screw up brakes if you keep playing with them.
 
Sorry, but mines the other type. Handle behind the shifter. I think the difference you have going is your emergency brake and service brake use the same brake shoe(lining) on your rear brake. Brake setup should be the same.
 
ivan said:
Sorry, but mines the other type. Handle behind the shifter. I think the difference you have going is your emergency brake and service brake use the same brake shoe(lining) on your rear brake. Brake setup should be the same.
Click to expand...

OK, so you have the same as my 28 brakes. Just adjust them as well explained in the Service Bulletins.:)
 
I understand the actuators front and rear are different lengths to make the rear come on first. Not sure how much can be reversed because of the engineering. I think it was Kevin in New Jersey that posted about this years ago
 
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