Brake rod too long, but correct leagth

[billyrey]

Rod is correct leagth but with eye all the way on still too long. What could be the issue?

[Joe K]

Front axle?

If so the axle may be bent. The front axle is wont to "curl" around the front spring perch, particularly the section from the perch outwards - but possibly between sides.

Check also your wishbone isn't bent - or disconnected where it attaches to the bottom of the transmission bell housing.

Joe K

[Patrick L.]

Improper main/center adjustment ? Improper actuating arm angle ?

[Ray64]

I vote actuating arm set wrong

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Ray64

I vote actuating arm set wrong

Count my vote as well. The arm should "lean" towards the front of the car 15 degrees

[Mark in MT]

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Check the diameter of the brake drums. As the drums get bigger, you have to shorten the rods to get it to adjust up right. Many time I find that the rods were cut off and threaded some more to get short enough to work. When you put on new drums, brake rods are too short.

[roccaas]

Is the other rod on that axle too short? Possibly the cross shaft is not perpendicular with the centerline of the car (broken bracket, bushings are bad, etc?).

Are both rods on the axle too long? Possibly the bell crank isn't vertical when the brakes are off.

How are the lengths of the rods to the other axle?

[Purdy Swoft]

I've seen a lot of too short brake rods. I don't recall any being too long.

[Rowdy]

Make that 3 that vote actuating lever set wrong. Rod

[RonC]

How long are the rods eyehole to eyehole? In the service bulletins they give a dimension for solid non adjustable brake rods. You should be close to that length. Have you adjusted your brakes per the instructions in the service bulletins?

[Purdy Swoft]

The eye to eye length is adjustable as needed. Bratton says their brake rods are 50 & 1/2 inches long this is without the adjustable clevis end. The front brake levers should lean foward 15 degrees with the slack pulled back as has been said. Most that I see the whole brake rod system is set up wrong. Forget about an exact length from eye to eye because Thats not the way its done if you want good brakes.

Here goes again on the brake rod setup. Disconnect all of the brake rods at the clevis end. Bring the plunger on the pedal rod 1/16th inch from the inside back of the center cross member , where it meets the plunger on the brake light switch. Adjust the clevis so that the brake pedal is at the top of its travel. With the front brake levers setup leaning 15 degrees foward as recommended, adjust the service brake rods so that the clevis pins will just enter with ALL slack free movement removed. Some in an attempt to do a good job go too far in shimming the front brake pin and end up with too much forward lean at the front brake levers and the threads on the front brake rod won't reach all the way through the clevis. When this happens, if its not too bad the pedal rod can be adjusted all the way back to the center crossmember. Ford recommended a 1/16 gap to prevent squeaks. I've never noticed squeaks when the pedal rod is adjusted in this manner and it allows the brake rod threads to pass all the way through the clevis ends..