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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: Skunksmash on January 24, 2009, 07:57:40 pm

Title: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 24, 2009, 07:57:40 pm

Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the brake pedal? I realize that it is probably just the way these trucks are made, but i am used to driving newer cars and i would like to take maybe an inch of play out of the brake pedal on my '87 2WD 5.7 liter/Automatic. There is no air in the lines, i know what that feels like. It just seems to me that you have to press just a little to long before the braking action actually kicks in. Is there a way to shorten the amount of travel before the brakes actually start working?

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 26, 2009, 12:19:09 pm

hm, i guess nobody know

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: Captkaos on January 26, 2009, 12:54:16 pm

Out of the initial push?  There shouldn't be any in it...  You should hit the pedal and it start to apply pressure immediately.  Do you have any leaking cylinders?  cracked open vacuum hoses?

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: DnStClr on January 26, 2009, 07:32:48 pm

I just put new rotors and pads on my 87 and it makes a lot of difference.

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 26, 2009, 07:49:14 pm

Clean and adjust your rear brakes.

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 27, 2009, 08:36:12 am

Ok i will take a look at the stuff y'all mentioned. But the pedal makes a sort of "SSSsss..." hissing sound when you press on it, and you need to press it down about two inches to feel the brakes actually start to engage. I know it's not in need of bleeding cause the pedal will not sink all the way to the floor, and actually stops a good ways away from the floor. Maybe this is just something i am noticing that is inherent to an 87 model truck. I could just be used to stuff that is not the same way.

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: frogman68 on January 27, 2009, 08:40:56 am

Have you checked the Check Valve (think that is what its called :) ) on the booster ? and the line to the manifold ?

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: joesgarage71 on January 27, 2009, 08:57:24 am

 Or the booster is going bad, Press the brake pedal kinda hard and start the truck if the pedal sinks down after starting then the booster is good. find out where the hissing is coming from.
 Steve

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 27, 2009, 10:19:01 am

Atmospheric pressure rushes into the booster when you apply the brakes with the engine running. If you apply the brakes and hear a continous hissing sound the booster diaphragm is toast and needs to be replaced. Nevertheless your rear brakes need to be cleaned and adjusted first and your pedal will come back to normal provided everything is A OK

Title: Re: Is there anything i can do to take some slack out of the pedal?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 27, 2009, 10:03:39 pm

Yes, the effect seems to be significantly lessened now that i cleaned/adjusted the rears. Never heard of this problem before i guess you learn something new every day. I dislike messing with drums though.  :-X What is the best year to use for a disc swap? I know we have that article here but is that the ideal setup? Just something i might be interested in... in a couple of years.