Re: Brake Pedal Shaft Adjustment

Posted by Paul on September 05, 1998 at 22:11:52

In Reply to: Brake Pedal Shaft Adjustment
posted by Ken M on September 05, 1998 at 21:08:54

: I just put a newly rebuilt cross shaft in my late 1930 Coupe. I am assuming that the rod from the brake pedal to the cross shaft is original. It has an extension toward the rear with a flat round end for the stoplight switch. If I adjust the length of the rod so that the brake pedal is at the top of it's stroke, and more or less even with the clutch pedal, when I push the pedal all of the way down, the cross shaft presses up on the radius ball cap and torque tube and can even move it up a little. If I shorten the rod adjustment until I can push the brake pedal all of the way down until the pedal arm hits the bell housing, I have a pretty short stroke. This is with no body on the chassis and no brake drums installed. I just am trying to get the stroke started in the right place. So where is it supposed to be? Is there some stop for the brake pedal that I haven't discovered yet? Yikes!
Ken,
There is a return limit built into the brake pedal itself, which causes it to stop on the cluth housing casting.With the pedal limiting on the cluth housing stop, adjust the pad on the rod clear the cross rail by 1/32 or 1/16.This should allow proper operation of the stop light switch.Perhaps more important, it should establish the brake cross shaft at a point where the brake rod operating levers on the ends are at 90 degrees to the parallel of the chasis.this allows proper and equal leverage on the front and rear brake rods.With this area adjusted correctly, the cross shaft should not contact the torque tube.If that occurs, after adjusting as described, check the front and side engine mounts for proper intstallation, to prevent the engine from sagging at the rear.
Have fun!
Paul