Brakes

[Foss]

Hi everyone….we finally got our new purchase on the road.  ‘57 Pontiac Star Chief.  So, are the brakes supposed to be so stiff?  The brake master cylinder/booster have been cleaned and new parts put on.  But the brake pedal is so hard to push in.  My wife needs both feet to apply the brakes.  Should they be this hard to apply?  Is there something that needs adjusting?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

[Fitzy]

Wow - there's a can of worms just begging to be open. It could be any one of a myriad of things. Your brakes are the one thing you always want to work. Myself - I'd take it to a mechanic or brake specialist for a thorough inspection.

Brake shoes - are they new? Not contaminated with dust or brake fluid?

Flexible brake hoses - are they new? Old ones can perish and/or swell and can constrict inside flow.

Pedal pivot not rusted?

What about the 65 year old metal brake lines - if they haven't been replaced or at least flushed who knows what's in there?

I'd spend a thousand bucks on an inspection & repair rather than ten thousand when you shunt the car in front of you and also damage your own. I sound like a bit of a Nazi, I know, but auto brakes are not to be taken for granted - they HAVE to work!

[Last Indian]

47 minutes ago, Foss said:

Hi everyone….we finally got our new purchase on the road.  ‘57 Pontiac Star Chief.  So, are the brakes supposed to be so stiff?  The brake master cylinder/booster have been cleaned and new parts put on.  But the brake pedal is so hard to push in.  My wife needs both feet to apply the brakes.  Should they be this hard to apply?  Is there something that needs adjusting?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks. 

Are you sure you have the vacuum line connected? If so are you sure you have it connected to the correct manifold vacuum not Venturi vacuum? And have you put a vacuum gage on the hose to know what vacuum it is pulling? Have you checked pedal free play? There is much more, but start there.

[Foss]

Thanks guys.  I didn’t think the brakes should be so stiff.  Takes the fun out of driving this gem if you are constantly worried about the brakes, especially for my wife.  Guess I’ll try and find a mechanic who can check this out.