Making the best of a bad situation
1965 Valiant.
I'd like some thoughts and advice on my brakes, please.
When I bought the car, it came to me with some issues and some "upgrades". I took it to a local shop that specializes in vintage cars. They fixed a leaky RF wheel cylinder, replaced a cracked drum (I believe it was the LF), some shoes, and bled/adjusted the brakes.
I was informed that because someone installed a power brake booster on a non-PB pedal, the throw is long and soft. He said there are different pedal assemblies for power and manual brakes. I am told the booster looks like a Chevy part.
The brakes work, but the throw is long and, as I said, somewhat soft. It seems like when I'm in town, they are more touchy. Something to do with the vacuum, I suppose?
But, recently I've been noticing that it pulls to the right when brakes are applied, and sometimes there's a "groan" on the RF that isn't normal. I plan on jacking it up and adjusting the brakes as soon as I can get some assistance in the garage. I guess it's possible that some of the new parts have "bedded in" and need adjustment again, even though it's only been a few hundred miles.
My questions are: Is there anything I can do about the pedal? The long throw? There's a bunch of dead travel before anything happens and the pedal goes down low, even though there's no air in the system. I can see a rod/nut on the master cylinder, under the dash... can that be adjusted to help? I know I have a mish-mash of parts here, but what can I do to make the best of what I have?
1965 Valiant.
I'd like some thoughts and advice on my brakes, please.
When I bought the car, it came to me with some issues and some "upgrades". I took it to a local shop that specializes in vintage cars. They fixed a leaky RF wheel cylinder, replaced a cracked drum (I believe it was the LF), some shoes, and bled/adjusted the brakes.
I was informed that because someone installed a power brake booster on a non-PB pedal, the throw is long and soft. He said there are different pedal assemblies for power and manual brakes. I am told the booster looks like a Chevy part.
The brakes work, but the throw is long and, as I said, somewhat soft. It seems like when I'm in town, they are more touchy. Something to do with the vacuum, I suppose?
But, recently I've been noticing that it pulls to the right when brakes are applied, and sometimes there's a "groan" on the RF that isn't normal. I plan on jacking it up and adjusting the brakes as soon as I can get some assistance in the garage. I guess it's possible that some of the new parts have "bedded in" and need adjustment again, even though it's only been a few hundred miles.
My questions are: Is there anything I can do about the pedal? The long throw? There's a bunch of dead travel before anything happens and the pedal goes down low, even though there's no air in the system. I can see a rod/nut on the master cylinder, under the dash... can that be adjusted to help? I know I have a mish-mash of parts here, but what can I do to make the best of what I have?
