I have a '71 Chevelle with power drum brakes all the way around. It seems like when the pedal is pressed there is little resistance and then before it gets almost all the way to the floor then you feel resistance and the car stops but the brakes are touchy.....I can make the front end bounce with the brakes......why is this so?

Bad master cylinder probably. I had similar symptoms when I bought my car. Pedal would go all the way to the floor then the brakes would suddenly come on. Every 1 in 10 or so pumps of the pedal would give me proper feel.

Make sure you have fluid in the master and no leaks anywhere, then I'd consider replacing the master.

Tim.

Were you able to lock up your brakes? That's what mine do....once the pedal gets to the floor and the brakes come on it doesn't make much effort to lock them up. And they're 4 wheel drum too.

Yup. Pedal to the floor, then lock. 4 Wheel drums. smile.gif

Tim.

So is this a common 4 wheel drum thing? Or is the master cylinder indeed bad?

It's a bad master cylinder thing.

Tim.

Y0u might want to try flushing/bleeding everything with new brake fluid, starting with the master cylinder. Sounds like you have air in the system.