I have a '69 Malibu with 4 wheel drum brakes. Brakes have always been ok but has always had a low pedal (hard application takes the pedal within an inch or so of the floor.

After getting the car out this spring I found I had no brakes. New master, wheel cylinders, hoses and linings and back on the road. Brakes are bled, adjusted and seem good to go but I still have a low pedal. The pushrod between the pedal and the booster has been adjusted as far as it can go and I wonder if the rod between the master and booster is too short (the wrong one maybe)?

Anyone know if more than one rod was used by the factory, and which one is the right one? Also, anyone seen any type of adjustable rod that might work?

I'd appreciate any thoughts.

There are two pushrod lengths on power assisted cars.

Let me see if I can dig up pictures to prove it.

Shallow push rod (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/MyPushrod.JPG)

Deep push rod (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/DeepPushrodHole.JPG)

Make sure you have a shallow push rod for a shallow MC and vice versa. Its easy to check. Just two bolts on the MC and a visual confirmation.

graemlins/beers.gif

Joe

Thanks Joe for the reply. Pretty graphic evidence that I've got the long pushrod already in place and here I was look for a longer one. Guess I'm back to square one looking for a cause for the low brake pedal.

The clevis on the end of the pushrod between the brake pedal and booster (attaches to the brake pedal) is backed out to the very end of the threaded rod end.

I haven't threaded this end back down the rod (in effect shortening the rod) because it seems this will only pull the pedal closure to the floor, making the problem worse. Is this correct?

How deep is the recess on the master cylinder compared the the rod sticking out of the booster? I had the same exact problem with a '72 Chevelle I converted to power from manual. A quick way to find out would be to cut the head off of a 5/16 X 1/2" bolt and use as a spacer. If the master slides back on the booster all the way of most of the way shorten spacer until it slides on all the way.

Thanks for the reply. I had wondered about using a spacer - when you've done this have you left the spacer in for keeps or was it just to measure things up? In my case it looks like I'm only about 1/8" shorter than I should be. Don't know if that is enough to make a difference or not, but worth a try. Drop me a line about your spacer use. Thanks for the idea.