Brake pedal travel and shoes adjustment - how far is normal?

[JellyBeanDriver]

86' C30 crew cab, 454, TH400, carb'd dually.


Brake pedal travel is long. I estimate that it will travel half the distance before significant braking occurs. Nothing happens in the first 1/4 of the depression. Normal?

Going to inspect the rear shoes, was reading the factory service manual on how to adjust the brakes (lousy instructions on the whole rear braking mechanism BTW).

Adjust Brake adjusting screw until the wheel can
just be turned by hand. The brake drag should be equal at both
wheels. Back off the adjusting screw 33 notches.
Important
• Brakes should have no drag after the screw
has been backed off about 15 notches. If a
heavy drag is present refer to “ Parking
Brake Adjustment.”

Really? seems like it's backed off too much. Also how does one 'count' the notches when backing off? I've always used a rod to push away the adjuster lever and then loosened the star wheel until the drag is low. I've never been able to 'feel' the number of notches when loosening.

What's your experience?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Drive backwords and hit the brakes a bunch for my vehicles. They self adjust this way. Just don't do it to much.

Does your c30 have hydro boost? Otherwise it seems normal to me unless your almost to the floor just to stop.
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[JellyBeanDriver]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Drive backwords and hit the brakes a bunch for my vehicles. They self adjust this way. Just don't do it to much.

Does your c30 have hydro boost? Otherwise it seems normal to me unless your almost to the floor just to stop.
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Yes, it has hydroboost.

And yeah, agressive backing up isn't happening naturally much.

[dieseldawg142]

might be time to check your shoes. have a '85 crew k30 with the same set-up as yours, pedal used to go about halfway, with new brakes the pedal only goes down 1/2" & it's a solid wall of braking now. i adjusted them till there was just a very slight drag. couldn't tell you how many notches on the adjusters though. also check to see if any of the brake load sensing equipment is still plumbed in, after removing mine, the pedal firmed up more i found

[JellyBeanDriver]

Originally Posted by dieseldawg142

might be time to check your shoes. have a '85 crew k30 with the same set-up as yours, pedal used to go about halfway, with new brakes the pedal only goes down 1/2" & it's a solid wall of braking now.

It is on the horizon. Horse show this weekend and then I'll dig in. Will adjust them how I've done it in the past (which is your way too)

[motornut]

I've seen the ajusters siezed ,springs reversed ,and it prevents the adjuster from moving
adjuster can be pulled apart and checked/greased
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[JellyBeanDriver]

Thanks everyone. Will dig into this in a couple of weeks.

[JellyBeanDriver]

Looked through the manual and saw something about 'low drag' calipers. I remember reading about these and that they needed additional pedal travel to make up for the piston being pulled back so far.

Rotating the tires today, the front brakes definitely are low drag. I can spin a front tire and it will turn and turn and turn for over a minute.

Maybe this is the reason for the long pedal throw?

Still need to take the drums off. Working up my courage.

[donut]

Would be nice, but I'm still leaning toward worn rears. The good part about that, I've found over the years, that the front pads wear a whole lot faster than the rear shoes.