Brake Pedal Adjustment

[Lesworth]

I have replaced all the brake components over the last two years, most recently installing freshly rebuilt 3.2 calipers and while I have a nice firm pedal and the brakes certainly bite, I feel the pedal travel to get to that point is sub-optimal and doesn't inspire the right level of confidence on the brakes. Am I right in thinking that the adjusting rod behind the pedal (#1 below) will take out that travel by increasing the distance between the pedal resting point and the master cylinder engagement / pressure point? Seems logical but thought I would check.

[Nige]

Yes, like a track rod arm.  You still need some free play at the pedal, at least 10mm according to this excerpt

[Lesworth]

Thanks Nige 

[Nige]

Pleasure hun

 

[mean in green]

I did the same, with a brake pedal height that was awkwardly high (I think the rod has opposite threads either end, so it either lengthens or shortens when rotated with the locking nuts backed off). I got it matched much more comfortably to the other pedals, just be mindful of lever travel to the foot board with hot brakes etc.

[Lesworth]

Thanks Simon. My issues is less about pedal height and more about how much travel on the pedal from the rest point to when the master cylinder engages and you feel pressure.

[Beaky]

Hi Les, in addition to the above, adding braided hoses and swapping the MC for a Turbo unit also helps the pedal pressure. 

[mean in green]

1 hour ago, Lesworth said:

Thanks Simon. My issues is less about pedal height and more about how much travel on the pedal from the rest point to when the master cylinder engages and you feel pressure.

Ah, I see - sorry, I misunderstood.

[Lesworth]

Pedal pressure is ok, it's just that the pedal has to travel too far (IMO) before you feel that pressure. Reading the above and also some other posts on Pelican has led me to think that this adjustment is just for the pedal height and that the other end of the adjustment rod (the activation lever) is actually what's fixed. Its this lever's relationship to the MC that feels like it needs adjustment. It's a new master cylinder thats also been independently bled from the main system prior to fitting.

[SilverWT]

2 hours ago, Lesworth said:

... has led me to think that this adjustment is just for the pedal height 

That is what I understand.

There is no adjustment at the Servo end, so excessive travel would be due to play in the linkage.

If you take the big whitish plastic plug out of the front of the ally servo stand (facing you when you look at it from the front of the car) you can stick a finger in and feel for play in the linkage.

I would also suggest a side by side comparison with another SC.

 

Mark

[Beaky]

1 hour ago, SilverWT said:

you can stick a finger in and feel for play

I'm saying nothing...........................................................................

[Lesworth]

2 hours ago, SilverWT said:

That is what I understand.

There is no adjustment at the Servo end, so excessive travel would be due to play in the linkage.

If you take the big whitish plastic plug out of the front of the ally servo stand (facing you when you look at it from the front of the car) you can stick a finger in and feel for play in the linkage.

I would also suggest a side by side comparison with another SC.

 

Mark

[Lesworth]

To close this out I really just needed to re-set my expectations as I've spent too much time recently in modern stuff and not enough time in this car.