Return Spring for Brake Pedal Broke

[DT1]

I jumped in the truck the other day and when I depressed the brake I heard a "Ping" and felt the pedal drop about a half inch. I got out to take a look and spotted a U shaped piece of spring metal in the floor mat. Upon further inspection, I could see way up under the column a heavy spring just kind of dangling there. I got the flashlight and an inspection mirror, but try as I might, I couldn't see where it is suppose to attach to the pedal. I consulted my manual but found no clear information about it. It looks like I'm going to have to remove the gauge cluster to even get to it.
Has anyone here recently replaced this spring? If so, a few pointers on how to gain easy access would be greatly appreciated. I hate to start ripping into something and then finding out that there was a simpler way to go about it.

[Bigdav160]

I don't remember any spring on the brake pedal.

[DT1]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I don't remember any spring on the brake pedal.

I didn't think it had one either but there it was. Plain as day.

[LockDoc]

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One end of it fastens in a bracket right by the brake light switch and the other end fastens up by the firewall.

LockDoc
__________________

[1972SUPERSB]

I just replaced this spring last week. What a pain! It is a very strong spring and I took off the plate under steering column and lowered the steering column a little to get to it. Very tough to get to. Maybe taking off the instrument cluster would be easeir. Not sure. Let me know what you figure out.

[DT1]

Originally Posted by 1972SUPERSB

I just replaced this spring last week. What a pain! It is a very strong spring and I took off the plate under steering column and lowered the steering column a little to get to it. Very tough to get to. Maybe taking off the instrument cluster would be easeir. Not sure. Let me know what you figure out.

I was able to see the bracket by the firewall but I can't see where the other end attaches. Does it actually attach somewhere high on the pedal itself?

[1972SUPERSB]

Originally Posted by DT1

I was able to see the bracket by the firewall but I can't see where the other end attaches. Does it actually attach somewhere high on the pedal itself?

It attaches close to the brake light switch. I had to take the switch out to make it easier. I also had to take off the push rod to the brake booster as well

[jim ellis]

to replace your over center spring disconnect push rod from pedal push pedal back down on floor remove pedal stop.pull pedal up as far as needed to hook up spring then reinstall stop and push rod.

[DT1]

Originally Posted by jim ellis

to replace your over center spring disconnect push rod from pedal push pedal back down on floor remove pedal stop.pull pedal up as far as needed to hook up spring then reinstall stop and push rod.

Thanks,
I'll give it a try.

[DT1]

That, my friends, was one of the hardest things I have ever done to my truck.
I followed the advice I got from jim ellis but it wasn't quite that simple. I dropped the steering column as far as it would go, disconnected the pedal rod and removed the switch. The brake pedal wouldn't go down far enough to to allow the spring to connect to the back bracket because the stop light switch bracket was in the way and I still had to stretch the spring at least an inch. It's a very hard spring to stretch, especially since I couldn't get my hand up in there to grab it. I finally had to make a tool out of a piece of 1/4 inch rod that was 18 inches long. I notched the rod to catch the end of the spring. Then I contorted my 6' 3" body between the seat and firewall and pushed the rod (More than a few times) until it finally caught the back bracket. I hope the new spring is robust enough because I really don't want to ever do it again.