Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

Don't have any problems stopping, but they are hard as hell. Just manual brakes, but I do have the big 20's. Just thought I'd ask why they would be hard as rock. New pads, new shoes, and got plenty of fluid.

Re: Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

There are a couple of things that can cause a rock hard pedal depending on whats been done to the system. If the brakes seem to work well my guess would be the master cylinder bore being too big for the system. Power brake setups use a 1" or larger bore in most cases and manual brakes generally use a 7/8" bore or less depending on the system. the larger bore means more volume of fluid but less overall pressure (the volume being the reason the pedal travels less) and a smaller bore means more overall pressure but less volume meaning the pedal travels further to move the amount of fluid it takes to apply the brakes. (this is just one cause) you also can't rule out a tight pivot for the pedal arm, blockage in the system, a faulty residual pressure valve in the master cylinder or combination valve etc. Hope this helps.:)

Re: Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

my manual brakes are hard just tought tthat was they way they were

Re: Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

on these trucks, the master cylinder is the same regardless of power brakes or non power brakes.
If they stop the truck fine, you are able to lock them up, and you can do all this with one fiit... then it sounds about right to me.
Remember, these were built when men were men.

Re: Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

like I said I stop, now if I didn't then I'd be complaining. Just wanted to know why they were so hard.

Re: Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

You might just be used to having some air in the hydraulics, which will make the pedal spongy.

Re: Brakes Hard as a Rock
 

Also the 20's act as a longer lever making it harder to stop the wheel from turning.