Disc brake conversion - soft pedal

[livinginthepast]

The bugeye I recently purchased went through a disc brake conversion, but since then, a firm pedal has not been achieved. I'm hoping for some troubleshooting help so that when it arrives (it's enroute now), I'll be prepared to jump in and fix it!

First of all, the car stops, but the pedal is "squishy."

I didn't see this tested, but the PO told me that he was able to get a firm pedal by clamping off the passenger side brake hose. He said the calipers were rebuilt when the conversion was done, and he suspects that the caliper may need replacing. I'm not a hydraulics expert by any stretch of the imagination, but, as there is no leaking, I'm not sure how that could be the case (although, again, I'm only minimally informed on the physics of the system).

I was thinking that the system may need to be bled again, but then that wouldn't necessarily explain why clamping the brake hose on the passenger side firms up the pedal, right? or might that be the issue?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Jim_Gruber]

It would if there is air in the lines on that side.

 

[Pythias]

When the conversion was done, do you know if the Master cylinder was left at 7/8" or properly converted to a 3/4" bore?..

See ya in Everett on the 30th! .. We should be able to get it diagnosed, if not fixed then.

 

[livinginthepast]

Hey there -

Yes, the MC was resleeved to 3/4" per the overview on gerardsgarage.

Sadly, the car won't be here until the week of June 1, so it won't be available for the 30th. This post is a preemptive strike. I may take the '62 on the 30th, though!

Jim - Thanks. I'm going to bleed the brakes the day the car arrives and see whether that takes care of it.

 

[Coastalman]

Let us know if you are able to get a hard pedal. I have been fighting the same problem for awhile. The car stops fine, but if I need to really stop fast I am afraid the soft pedal will not be what I want it to be. I have used the mighty vac and other vacuum methods, lots of fluid and many attempts to bleed the air. There are not any bubbles coming out the bleed points, but I still have the soft pedal. I did the same conversion to disc brakes and I think the brakes should be better.
Charlie

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Have you adjusted the push rod?

 

[livinginthepast]

With respect to the pushrod, I don't know. The receipts are coming with the car and need to have a look at the detail of the work done.

With that said, I must admit that I'm not sure how to adjust a pushrod!

 

[livinginthepast]

"I have been fighting the same problem for awhile."

Have your brakes remained consistently soft, or have you seen any indication that they are getting worse? The PO of my car says that it's been this way for a while, has not gotten worse, and he simply drives it without worrying too much about it.

I'm one of those people who is not satisfied with 'good enough' when it comes to braking, so I'm hoping this will not cause too much troubleshooting strife!

 

[Coastalman]

I am still in the process of putting the car back together and have not worked on the brakes in awhile. The car is drivable and the pedal has remained consistently soft since the last attempt at bleeding air out of the line. I will work on the brakes after more pressing issues are completed. I do not like the soft pedal, but it stops now and I'll get back to that problem later. Please let me know if you solve the problem.
Charlie