Brake Adjustment

M

msstring

Senior Member
What is the key to bleeding and adjusting brakes? I have all new cylinders and new lines. I have blead all the lines again by pumping 3 to 4 pumps at each wheel. Going to need to get more brake fluid to do more.

Brakes are adjusted so there is just slight drag when spinning wheels. Still need about half the pedal travel and the pedal is spongy.

Any suggestions?

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My '38 has mechanical brakes, but from what I remember about hydraulics, pump and release slowly to prevent bubbles, do the right rear first (farthest from MC), left front last (closest to MC). Back in the day, I used a Nehi pop bottle (clear) with the hose submerged and my helper pumped a couple times beyond the no bubbles point. I'm told that if you are using silicone fluid, the brakes will normally feel spongy. You probably know all that, but offhand, that's all I remember anyway.
 
just a thought check the master cylinder pushrod adjustment then bleed the master cylinder then all four wheels furthest first and so on If all good should wind up with 1/2 pedal play then a good pedal
 
If you don't have "quality help" when bleeding your brakes, "Speed-Bleeders" are a great help. Used properly, it is easy to do it by yourself.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Truck is a 50 F3 whithout booster.

I had bled the master cylinder before I started.

The first time I bled them I had a helper (unenthused wife LOL), she would push & release as I released and tightened the bleeder. Yesterday helper was not available. But I had read in the shop manual about putting a hose down into a bottle of break fluid. So I did that without a helper thinking any bubbles would come out and float to the top and any drawback would be brake fluid. Maybe that is not actually true though as that would have to force the bubbles down to the bottle.

I did read the post linked, I saw that right after I posted my question. I noticed there that you should not push the pedal all the way down. I didn't know that.

I'll check the push rod adjustment and try again with a helper and in the sequence noted after I get some more brake fluid.

I did see the link about the bleeders with the check valve I might look into that too.

Thanks again for the help. I'll report back with an update after my next attempt.

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You are using the correct wheel sequence for brake bleeding, correct?

If you decide to use Speed Bleeders, be sure to get the longer ones to make bleeding easier.

Do a Fordbarn search on "Speed Bleeders" and read, read, read.
 
It doesn't take much of an overlook to keep having issues, one bubble in the system is noticeable.
 
This is what I do when bleeding brakes (with a helper)


Fill a bottle (plastic please) with small amount of fluid.



Connect hose to bleeder, submerge other end in bottle fluid.



Have helper pump brakes two or three time and hold to floor (or stopping point)


Open bleeder till air/fluid is expended



Close bleeder



Tell helper to let up on pedal


Repeat till no air bubbles are expended


As stated, start with cylinder furthest away from master cylinder.
 
I agree with Paul except pump a lot more than 2 or 3 times. The hole letting fluid in and bubbles out of the Master is very small.
 
I used a vacuum pump to pull the fluid thru my new calipers when I replaced them on my truck, then bled them the rest of the way with a helper.
 

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