brakes 320I Rear Brakes = Long Pedal?

[max210]

I installed 320i drum brakes and a set of IE braided hoses. I went through two large bottles of DOT4 fluid and I do get braking action but the pedal is very long. I probably don't start feeling resistance until about 60-70% of the pedal throw and then about 10-20% is the braking action. Is this due to the bigger brakes? Any suggestions? Oh I forgot to mention I have reman'ed front calipers from the local parts store, pads I bought from Pelican Parts and resurfaced rotors.

Edited August 11, 2013 by max210

[baller908790]

Are the drum brakes adjusted correctly?

Is the hand brake adjusted correctly?

[Guest_anonymous]

Hmmmm.....no you wouldn't get a longer travel from the larger brake cylinders in the rear. How did you bleed your system, sounds as though you still have some air in the system.

[max210]

I'll have to admit that I'm a dumbass and didn't adjust the brakes. For some reason I was thinking they were self adjusting. I googled how to adjust the brakes and I'll find some time today to do it.

 

I used a vacuum pump and went through an entire large bottle. I was getting the long pedal so I got another large bottle and did it the old fashioned way, had the gf pump the pedal for me.

 

Thanks!

[jrhone]

Adjust the parking brake.  The pedal travel/feel is directly related to how the rear parking brake is adjusted.  

[M3M3M3]

Adjust the parking brake.  The pedal travel/feel is directly related to how the rear parking brake is adjusted.  

not really.

 

the rear drum are not self adjusting.  pedal feel is directly related to how well the two adjuster bolts are set.  this needs to be adjusted frequently.

 

if adjusting the parking brake changes the brake feel, your main adjusters are not set correctly.

I'll have to admit that I'm a dumbass and didn't adjust the brakes. For some reason I was thinking they were self adjusting. I googled how to adjust the brakes and I'll find some time today to do it.

 

I used a vacuum pump and went through an entire large bottle. I was getting the long pedal so I got another large bottle and did it the old fashioned way, had the gf pump the pedal for me.

 

Thanks!

i have found vacuum pumps ineffective.  the do a great job of sucking air in from around the bleed screw threads.  best way to get the air out is to push it out with a pressure bleeder or the pedal method.

Edited August 11, 2013 by mlytle

[jrhone]

hmmm  mlytle...are u saying that pedal tavel has NOTHING to do with rear brake adjustment, including parking brake?  That wold be contrary to every other post i have read on rear brakes...including this one...

 

"CD's advice tends to address pedal travel more than mushiness. If you have poorly adjusted shoes and that includes the handbrake adjustment, the pedal will have to move further to engage the rear shoes. So, adjustment is good practice, even though it will not have any affect on air in the system and mushiness."

 

and this...

 

"Actually, in a 2002, the adjusters do this. The valve keeps the hydraulics 

prelaoded against the shoes, but the springs in the shoes can overcome
the valve.
That's why adjusting the rear drums is such a direct way to get a higher pedal.

t"

 

and this one from CD himself...

 

"get the rear shoes adjusted to 'just released' and yer pedal

will be HARD!

chow "

[M3M3M3]

read the first line of my post please.  it appears you did not.

 

"the rear drum are not self adjusting.  pedal feel is directly related to how well the two adjuster bolts are set.  this needs to be adjusted frequently."

 

how did you miss that in all your typing?

Edited August 11, 2013 by mlytle

[max210]

that was it,  thanks!

[M3M3M3]

yeah!  gotta love simple fixes!

[jrhone]

good job!....

 

marshall, looks like I just read two different things in your post, I think its a bit of semantics, but his problem got solved and thats the important part...

 

We both told him to adjust the rear brakes, he did, it fixed his problem.  lol...