quote:Originally posted by A Hudson:
Wow, this is the most awesome board on the internet. Thanks, thanks...
1. Brake pedal position seems fine, even with clutch. Basically 'normal'.
2. Pedal travel until brakes grab is too far. It is a fully firm pedal.
3. I did NOT bench bleed, but we pressurized and vacuumed 3 cans of Valvoline synthetic through the entire system to 'correct' that oversight. We hope. Again, pedal has no squish, just too much travel.
Does that help?
Well, too much pedal travel, presuming that the mechanicals have no issues, is a symptom that there is not enough pressure being produced by the master and one of the reasons is...ta da...you need to bench bleed the master.
Why some master cylinders are so sensitive to this and others not...beats me, but it's true.
If you decide to do that, you might want to measure the diameter of the bore of the master while it is out.
My stock Pantera master is 30mm or ruffly 1-1/8". If yours is smaller, that is also an explanation of why there is more travel and less inherent pressure in the master.
I am a believer in going larger then stock because it adds feel to the pedal and reduces the overall travel to maximum.
My '68 GT350 has what the vintage racers call the "Mustang Trans-Am Brakes".
The master is sourced from an F250 of the era and get this, it is a 1-5/16" bore. (1.315" diameter). I love the feel. I haven't met anyone who thinks the pedal is too hard. Everyone loves it.
According to many who sell brake kits though, it is way too big, and I won't have the leg strength to work it. They recommend no larger then 1-1/8" bore for RACING brakes. Know what? Poppycock. Don't you believe it.
Bigger is way better.
