Slow brake pedal. (slow to return to top) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kensousa · 08-15-2011, 06:10 PM

I have a '71 Cheyenne with factory power brakes.
They work just fine, but I've noticed that the brake lights stay on quite a while after taking my foot off of the pedal.
I've looked underneath at the brake light switch to see if it was slow, but since the plunger goes in to turn the brakes off, that's not really the issue.
When I take my foot off of the brakes, I can reach behind it with my toes and "help" it return all the way up and then the lights go out.
If I don't "help" the pedal back up, it might take 15 to 20 seconds or more before the brake lights go out by themselves.
Any ideas on what to look at to fix this?

thanks
KS

ETsC10 · 08-15-2011, 07:19 PM

Worn out or dry linkage. Check both under the dash and under the hood.

**LockDoc** · 08-15-2011, 10:24 PM

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It sounds like your return spring is either broken or missing. One end of it fastens in a bracket right by the brake light switch and the other end fastens up by the firewall. It will be white or blue in color. If you need one let me know and I will send you one. If the spring is there, what Ellen said...

Oh, and

to the board.
LockDoc

**special-K** · 08-17-2011, 07:15 AM

My tow truck does the same thing,but stays down,so the lights stay on. I drove it the other day,after a year of sitting,and realized the brakes are actually dragging...not just the lights staying on. All four corners were hot after a couple miles and the truck fell on it's face as soon as I lifted the throttle. The lights always stayed on since I've owned the truck. I suspected maybe the wrong master cylinder,plunger,booster,or other. Could it simply be the return spring? I haven't looked into it at all,yet. The p.o. had just "done the brakes" before I bought it and I know he's not good with wrenches. Probably why the e-brake never worked,either

Any suggestions on this issue?

cdowns · 08-17-2011, 07:20 AM

checking/replacing the spring and lubricating the pivot point is a good start to get the pedal assy to work smoothly

08-15-2011, 06:10 PM	#1
kensousa Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Inwood, WV Posts: 41	Slow brake pedal. (slow to return to top) I have a '71 Cheyenne with factory power brakes. They work just fine, but I've noticed that the brake lights stay on quite a while after taking my foot off of the pedal. I've looked underneath at the brake light switch to see if it was slow, but since the plunger goes in to turn the brakes off, that's not really the issue. When I take my foot off of the brakes, I can reach behind it with my toes and "help" it return all the way up and then the lights go out. If I don't "help" the pedal back up, it might take 15 to 20 seconds or more before the brake lights go out by themselves. Any ideas on what to look at to fix this? thanks KS

08-15-2011, 07:19 PM	#2
ETsC10 Hand Crafted C-10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Burien, WA Posts: 5,180	Re: Slow brake pedal. (slow to return to top) Worn out or dry linkage. Check both under the dash and under the hood.

08-15-2011, 10:24 PM	#3
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,633	Re: Slow brake pedal. (slow to return to top) - It sounds like your return spring is either broken or missing. One end of it fastens in a bracket right by the brake light switch and the other end fastens up by the firewall. It will be white or blue in color. If you need one let me know and I will send you one. If the spring is there, what Ellen said... Oh, and to the board. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 - Last edited by LockDoc; 08-15-2011 at 10:31 PM.

08-17-2011, 07:15 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Slow brake pedal. (slow to return to top) My tow truck does the same thing,but stays down,so the lights stay on. I drove it the other day,after a year of sitting,and realized the brakes are actually dragging...not just the lights staying on. All four corners were hot after a couple miles and the truck fell on it's face as soon as I lifted the throttle. The lights always stayed on since I've owned the truck. I suspected maybe the wrong master cylinder,plunger,booster,or other. Could it simply be the return spring? I haven't looked into it at all,yet. The p.o. had just "done the brakes" before I bought it and I know he's not good with wrenches. Probably why the e-brake never worked,either Any suggestions on this issue? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

08-17-2011, 07:20 AM	#5
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Slow brake pedal. (slow to return to top) checking/replacing the spring and lubricating the pivot point is a good start to get the pedal assy to work smoothly __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY



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