Here is the story... New master cylinder (bendix) bench bled new wheel cylinders new lines new hardware new shoes drums turned I have bled the system four times now and no visual of air after the first bleed. Drums adjusted out until they won't turn anymore and then backed off to a medium drag. I'm on my second master cylinder as well. I can't pump the brakes up to get a firm pedal... The car stops well enough to back in and out of the garage and that's it. I realize there is potential for a bad booster but I should be able to build a firm pedal when the car is not running right? When I installed the second master I got a little better pedal but not much. It's still going to the floor. I'm about to go CRAZY!!!
does the pedal have free play? try turning the adjusters up tight, real tight, and see if the pedal is firm.
Take one of your drum off and look at shoes.See if they are just hitting on ends of shoes.If so grind the ends so middle hits drum,on angle depth 1/8 back about 3/4inch.Did 59 have mc on fire wall.If so let gravty bleed out each wheel,but keep mc full.
No free play in the pedal. Before installing the drums and shoes I set the shoes inside the drum...I should be getting full contact. I also first bled them the ol fashion way and then I did a gravity bleed...now I have speed bleeders on. Anymore suggestions? Thanks folks.
Also, I just did another bleed and adjusted the front drums a little tighter than I would think is needed. Same results.
Is the M/C an "original to the car" type? Sounds like the problem you get when you have no (or a bad) residual pressure valve. If original type M/C replacement valves are hard to find. For later type replacement M/C use an external RPV.
Was the original master cylinder a Bendix ? they had two brake systems (booster/master cylinder) in 59, the other was Delco-Moraine and they need to matched up to each other? Just another possibility....
I might have answered your question without knowing what "free play" really is. I can press the pedal about 1/4" before coming in contact with anything. Didn't think there could be a problem there. I'm willing to try anything at this point. I don't know or even see how to adjust. Can you explain what I'm looking for? I would assume under the dash but I don't see anything that I could adjust.
Had one of these questions a couple of weeks ago on a 56 Cadillac. First start by plugging up the master cylinder and see if the pedal is firm. If not, master cylinder. If firm, then isolate the rear brake line from the front brakes by plugging the fitting for rear brakes. Bleed the master and the front brakes and check for pedal. If firm then back brakes are problem, if not front brakes are problem. (did u use new hoses and copper washers on the brake system? Those copper washers sometimes don't seal real well)
I was going to suggest that there may be a bad rubber hose in the system. They can bad sometimes even when new from the box.
if you have a 1/4" of movement you have play. i thought maybe the inside plunger was different on the new master. as suggested plug the master outlet, at that point the pedal should be rock hard.
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