A common problem and a question we answer more than we can remember is “Why does my pedal feel soft?” in my power brake system. One of the most overlooked things is probably the simplest fix.

Extending out of the booster is a pin. This pin simply extends into the piston in the back of the master cylinder. Have you ever set this distance? If you answered no, not only is this something you must do, it may be the reason for your soft pedal. Have we confused you? Take a look at the picture below and see if this helps.

Do you have a brake pedal that feels hard to press?

You may have a bad booster, booster hose, or check valve. In this 'How To' post, we offer a simple checklist to help you diagnose potential causes of a hard brake pedal.

Because we are gear heads, we take every chance to look under the hoods during car shows and swap meets.  One of our guys just got back from a big show and he was surprised by how a mistake he saw so many times. 

To use his words, “How could something like this be wrong on so many vehicles?”

Since we are in the brake business, we notice more things when it comes to a vehicle’s braking system than most classic car enthusiasts. Kind of like the house painter that can’t walk into a room without checking the paint line between the wall and the ceiling.

So what was it that our resident gear head noticed? About half of the vehicles he saw had a power brake booster with the wrong type of hose going from the engine vacuum source to the brake booster.

Whether you’re installing new brakes on your classic car or working on an existing system, brake drag can be a frustrating and challenging thing to diagnose and locate. On a positive note, the problem is usually a pretty simple repair once you find the culprit.

What Is Brake Drag?

Brake drag happens when the brake pads or shoes don’t release completely when the brake pedal is released, and is typically a result of mechanical issues or hydraulics. It is highly recommended to fix the dragging brakes as soon as possible, because it can lead to overheated parts and potential damage to the braking system, or worse yet, an accident.  

Referring to the checklists below will help you identify and repair your brake system’s brake drag woes so you can get back out on the road.

Bench bleeding your master cylinder is not necessarily all that complicated, but if we can make it even easier for you…we will. What is bench bleeding a master cylinder you might ask and why should I do it? It’s a process done before starting the process of bleeding the brakes on the rest of the vehicle. Typically done on the work bench (hence the name), this will remove the air from the master cylinder which then speeds up and makes bleeding the rest of the system much easier.