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Thread: long brake pedal

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    Bodger

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    long brake pedal

    ive got a mk1 escort mexico with standard braking system but brake pedal is long and spungy can I put a smaller bore master cylinder to make the pedal harder ive bleed the system and no air in there at all its an early mex with remote servo and cylinders inside on pedal box

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    Re: long brake pedal

    Two problems - long pedal and spongy pedal. The 2nd one first - classic air trapped somewhere! You've got a pedal box so already the system isn't std - and two independent circuits to be bled - either could have air and cause the squidgy pedal. Out of interest, does it get better with engine running as it could be a servo fault also (assume the servo is to front brakes) 2nd prob. long pedal - likely to be master cylinder sizing - Originally you had a single master but split diagonally and back to front but now you have fronts and rears each with a different master and these have to be matched to avoid what you are getting. Someone with more experience may be able to offer thoughts on sizing with std caliper / drum brake combo?

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    Re: long brake pedal

    If you've already got a long pedal stroke fitting a smaller master cylinder will make it worse. You need a larger master cylinder to shorten the pedal. You don't really have a choice if you want to shorten the pedal stroke.

    As has been mentioned though, fully bled brakes are the first thing to sort.

    I would find out what size your brake calipers are on the front, brake drums and slave cylinder sizes are on the back, the size of your master cylinder and check those against standard set-ups and fitment sizes.

    If you are wanting a standard original fitment set of brakes then these checks will highlight if you need to change anything, or whether it is just set-up that needs tweaking.
    Last edited by HonkyWhiteTrash; 03-02-2019 at 21:03.

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    Pit Crew Decade Plus User MK1_Oz's Avatar

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    Re: long brake pedal

    With my pedal box I have found that a power bleeder helps to get the last of the air out. The angle of the M/C's can be such that not all gets pushed out into the pipes then out through the caliper/piston bleeder.

    Also, as you press the pedal, have somebody look into the reservoir pots to see if there is a fluid surge in there. I have also had an issue where the rear port (fluid in from reservoir) was not sealing off meaning that as I pressed the pedal the fluid just went back into the reservoir giving me a squiggy and long pedal.

    You can do a test of the M/C's by adjusting the rear brake shoes right up. This takes up any slack in the rear brakes and can help you ID where the issue lies. Don't forget to free the shoes off afterwards...

    Just a couple of thoughts.
    1970 Mk1 Escort Tarmac Rally Car

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