44/14 swap complete. Now soft brakes?

[diablo1]

So whats the deal? after the swap I have noticed that the pedal is much softer than before and in reverse the pedal almost/if not goes to the floor. I have bleed the system 4 times now with the same results.

While searching the forums on this topic I have found mixed reviews. " They work great after the swap. No need to upgrade anything. Brakes too soft. ect."

So whats the deal to get a firm pedal with confidence in your brakes. I want to make sure the 74 K5 stops when I need it to. Can't put my wife and my twin girls at risk.

Thanks

 

[b454rat]

Hmm, maybe still have some air in there. I did the same swap and my brakes were bout the same as before if not a little better.

 

[scrappyk5]

Always make sure your rear brake shoes are adjusted correctly. not being adjusted correctly can cause a soft pedal. also make sure your proportioning valve doesnt need to be reset. there is a button under a little rubber boot on one end, just press it in to check.

 

[diablo1]

I will check the drums and the P valve. Thanks

 

[xCaliK5x]

I have the same issue, mine is soft and sinks almost to the floor. I bled mine a bunch of times with the power bleeder, reset the prop. valve, installed new pads and calipers in the front and stainless drop lines, no change. I'm doing a disc swap on the rear that should do it. The drums are just done, its easier to just swap to disc. Every once in a while the right drum locks up under braking, and the wheel cylinder has started to leak. Yours are probably shot like mine.

 

[diablo1]

xcalik5x How long did you run with a soft pedal? What are you going to do about a parking brake.

 

[xCaliK5x]

Well, I'm not sure how long the last owner was driving on it this way, but I have had it 6 months. It still stops pretty well, but the drums are messed up so if I have to really lay on the pedal, the right rear wheel gets more pressure and it wants to change lanes.

Parking brake? I'm not going to run one. Parking pawl in the gear box. I asked around, lots of people do not run them. The OEM "E" brake won't do **** for our trucks unless you have 1/2 mile of empty road infront of you if you lose your brakes. I was thinking of a line lock, but those just hold pressure. Not sure if it would bleed off so I'm going to cut a broom handle to put between the pedal and seat........

 

[Cornfield creations]

adjust the rear shoes, and try bleeding it again if you haven't. Sometimes air may get trapped in the proportioning valve. If that doesn't work the master may be going bad.

Sometimes if you are trying to bleed the brakes and the pedal will go to the floor pumping it up, it will push the master cylinder over the edge. Older master's eventually will create a ridge inside, you won't feel it in the pedal. But years and years of pushing to the same stopping point will create one. If you push the pedal suddenly to the floor it can snag a seal inside and cause it to ruin the seal.

When I am working on customers older cars I always do shallow pumps to get a pedal out of it. Just a thing to think about.

 

[rufusbooth]

Parking brake? I'm not going to run one.

Hummmm, please reference this thread in the lounge with multiple comments about "I should have set the e-brake"

Thread title?

Share your "I'm a dumbass, don't do this" moments.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228142


Back to your regularly scheduled thread....

Rufus

 

[dremu]

I resemble that remark!

-- A

 

[rufusbooth]

I resemble that remark!

-- A

Thought you might like that.