The Ford Barn

IvanT28 · 10-20-2017, 12:44 PM

Hey ya'll, Had a hard brake pedal with no 1" free play. 28' special coupe. Had a brake job done a year ago. All new guts on the backing plate, (I mean everything) and new cast iron drums. Decided to do a better brake adjustment then what had been done. The brakes work great now. Just like the book. Full on - rears lock & fronts grab, no pull left or right. Had to change rod lengths to get it that way and the brakes seems a little softer. But I have no free play. !/4" at the most. I can drive it like this fine, but what would cause that? Linkage to tight?? Return springs are working, can't pull the pedal back any further. It has a N/S cross shaft, correct 15 degree tilt on actuator arm. I used a brake board for adjustment. Could barely get the pedal to move the 2" required. Is that normal? I read some where that ol' Henry had an inch of free play designed into that whole mess of marvelous mechanical lingage. I guess I lost mine some where. Any ideas are welcome.

Jim Brierley · 10-20-2017, 01:44 PM

You don't really need 1" of free play, just a little is enough.

duke36 · 10-20-2017, 01:50 PM

Isn't 1" for the clutch pedal ? The brakes are around 1/4" to 3/8" if memory serves for pedal slop. Also,check the brake light operation when the pedal is depressed. The pedals should align with each other when retracted.

Big hammer · 10-20-2017, 03:30 PM

Back off each brake adjuster the same amount, go for a test drive :-)

WHN · 10-20-2017, 03:49 PM

We have always adjusted to one inch or so of peddle play. Good point about brake light. Not enough play and light might not go on. Enjoy.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-20-2017, 05:20 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Search Brake Adjustment!
Purdy Swoft & I both wrote LENGTHY articles on proper brake adjustment. FORGET the BOARD, it's USELESS, who in the WORLD would want the rear brakes locking up FIRST (DANGEROUS!) I don't care about what Henry "thought"-----
Bill Opinionated

Y-Blockhead · 10-20-2017, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

who in the WORLD would want the rear brakes locking up FIRST (DANGEROUS!)
Bill Opinionated

Thank you Bill. I 'attempt' to get that across to people but they look at me like I'm nuts...

IvanT28 · 10-20-2017, 08:33 PM

Well I did have a problem with the brake light switch until I elongated the screw holes for mounting it. Pedals are uneven, brake pedal being 3/4" closer to seat. I think I'll readjust for front and rears coming on together and call it good. She stops, and I don't worry to much about the idiot pulling out in front of me like I don't exist.

hbarnett · 10-20-2017, 08:52 PM

Ivan. Would your 28 happen to be a VERY Early 28? One that has the four wheel braking system? The emergency brake handle is next to the driver side cowl? I'm new to the site and I posted yesterday for anyone with an early model 28. Desperate for info on that brake system. I can't seem to find anything as of yet. Bought all the books and all they say is that the early model has what I already know I have. No specific info. Called several parts suppliers and they all say "the 28 brakes are all the same" They are not. Any help? Harold.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-21-2017, 03:55 AM

You adjust the early 28 service brakes just the same as the later Model A brakes. Don't worry about the parking brake adjustment, as that just pulls all 4 service brakes the same as the foot pedal does.

Jacksonlll · 10-21-2017, 08:08 AM

As long as your brakes are not dragging, why do anything. You can screw up brakes if you keep playing with them.

IvanT28 · 10-21-2017, 10:38 AM

Sorry, but mines the other type. Handle behind the shifter. I think the difference you have going is your emergency brake and service brake use the same brake shoe(lining) on your rear brake. Brake setup should be the same.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-21-2017, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivan

Sorry, but mines the other type. Handle behind the shifter. I think the difference you have going is your emergency brake and service brake use the same brake shoe(lining) on your rear brake. Brake setup should be the same.

OK, so you have the same as my 28 brakes. Just adjust them as well explained in the Service Bulletins.

Chuck Sea/Tac · 10-22-2017, 11:42 PM

I understand the actuators front and rear are different lengths to make the rear come on first. Not sure how much can be reversed because of the engineering. I think it was Kevin in New Jersey that posted about this years ago

10-20-2017, 12:44 PM	#1
IvanT28 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Wilsonville, Oregon Posts: 9	Hard brake pedal Hey ya'll, Had a hard brake pedal with no 1" free play. 28' special coupe. Had a brake job done a year ago. All new guts on the backing plate, (I mean everything) and new cast iron drums. Decided to do a better brake adjustment then what had been done. The brakes work great now. Just like the book. Full on - rears lock & fronts grab, no pull left or right. Had to change rod lengths to get it that way and the brakes seems a little softer. But I have no free play. !/4" at the most. I can drive it like this fine, but what would cause that? Linkage to tight?? Return springs are working, can't pull the pedal back any further. It has a N/S cross shaft, correct 15 degree tilt on actuator arm. I used a brake board for adjustment. Could barely get the pedal to move the 2" required. Is that normal? I read some where that ol' Henry had an inch of free play designed into that whole mess of marvelous mechanical lingage. I guess I lost mine some where. Any ideas are welcome. __________________ Ivan

10-20-2017, 01:44 PM	#2
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,081	Re: Hard brake pedal You don't really need 1" of free play, just a little is enough.

10-20-2017, 01:50 PM	#3
duke36 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,414	Re: Hard brake pedal Isn't 1" for the clutch pedal ? The brakes are around 1/4" to 3/8" if memory serves for pedal slop. Also,check the brake light operation when the pedal is depressed. The pedals should align with each other when retracted.

10-20-2017, 03:30 PM	#4
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,126	Re: Hard brake pedal Back off each brake adjuster the same amount, go for a test drive :-) __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

10-20-2017, 03:49 PM	#5
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,817	Re: Hard brake pedal We have always adjusted to one inch or so of peddle play. Good point about brake light. Not enough play and light might not go on. Enjoy.

10-20-2017, 05:20 PM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Hard brake pedal Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Search Brake Adjustment! Purdy Swoft & I both wrote LENGTHY articles on proper brake adjustment. FORGET the BOARD, it's USELESS, who in the WORLD would want the rear brakes locking up FIRST (DANGEROUS!) I don't care about what Henry "thought"----- Bill Opinionated __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-20-2017, 08:33 PM	#8
IvanT28 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Wilsonville, Oregon Posts: 9	Re: Hard brake pedal Well I did have a problem with the brake light switch until I elongated the screw holes for mounting it. Pedals are uneven, brake pedal being 3/4" closer to seat. I think I'll readjust for front and rears coming on together and call it good. She stops, and I don't worry to much about the idiot pulling out in front of me like I don't exist. __________________ Ivan

10-20-2017, 08:52 PM	#9
hbarnett Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: overland park Posts: 2	Re: Hard brake pedal Ivan. Would your 28 happen to be a VERY Early 28? One that has the four wheel braking system? The emergency brake handle is next to the driver side cowl? I'm new to the site and I posted yesterday for anyone with an early model 28. Desperate for info on that brake system. I can't seem to find anything as of yet. Bought all the books and all they say is that the early model has what I already know I have. No specific info. Called several parts suppliers and they all say "the 28 brakes are all the same" They are not. Any help? Harold. __________________ H Barnett

10-21-2017, 03:55 AM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Hard brake pedal You adjust the early 28 service brakes just the same as the later Model A brakes. Don't worry about the parking brake adjustment, as that just pulls all 4 service brakes the same as the foot pedal does.

10-21-2017, 08:08 AM	#11
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Hard brake pedal As long as your brakes are not dragging, why do anything. You can screw up brakes if you keep playing with them.

10-21-2017, 10:38 AM	#12
IvanT28 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Wilsonville, Oregon Posts: 9	Re: Hard brake pedal Sorry, but mines the other type. Handle behind the shifter. I think the difference you have going is your emergency brake and service brake use the same brake shoe(lining) on your rear brake. Brake setup should be the same. __________________ Ivan

10-22-2017, 11:42 PM	#14
Chuck Sea/Tac Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma Posts: 2,354	Re: Hard brake pedal I understand the actuators front and rear are different lengths to make the rear come on first. Not sure how much can be reversed because of the engineering. I think it was Kevin in New Jersey that posted about this years ago

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