Brake problem on a 40

I just put new drum brakes on a '40 ford, everything is new from the master cylinder, lines, hoses, wheel cylinders, everything... Any way I bled the brakes and there still is no pedal really, When you push the brake pedal down the wheel cylinders keep the drums from moving but it feels like no pedal.

Anyone had this problem before?
My mechanic is sick today...

 

sounds like the brakes are out of adjustment. did you "fit" the shoes to the drums? if not they may need to be "burned" in before they feel great.

 

Take line off the end of the master cylinder and pump the pedal slow a few times with your thumb over the hole, this bleeds it first, then do the farthest wheel cylinder and move to closest. Like was already said you must get a little drag of the shoes on drum surface. Let us know if it helps.

 

If you pump the peda does it then feel better? If so its shoes adjustment if not then its air in the lines. A lot of people have trouble with those lockheed systems ***uming your still running originals

 

Are you using redisual check valves? You need them with drum brakes, and m/cyl locted under the floor. Fluid drains back, and you then need to pump the pedal back up. Also, look into the other things mentioned,...it can be more than one thing giving you a problem.

4TTRUK

 

Yes i bench bled the master cylinder, i even pulled the brake switch out to make sure there was no air there, I was thinking i dont have the shoes adjusted out enough? I have Lincoln style brakes on the front. The pedal doesnt sink, it stays firm its just at the floor.

 

Shoes need to be adjusted OUT enough that you hear a SLIGHT "drag" on each drum as you turn it. DD

 

to adjust; tighten shoes till the drum won't turn [this centers the shoes] then back off the adjusters evenly. start with 8 clicks. adjust again after driving them and the shoes have contoured to the drum.

 

Thanks guys, thats wat i was thinking. I just didnt want to adjust them, take the car for a drive and run it into a ditch...

 

Some brakes have a center bolt between the two shoes. Loosen this before adjusting the brakes, then tighten. Allows you to adjust the brakes a lot closer to the drum for a "higher" pedal.

I've used this trick on single master cylinder brakes for years, never had a problem.

 

When I did a major brake overhaul on my Couple it did not have good pedal pressure until I adjusted the brakes then bleed the brake lines.

Rich