Ford 1841-S brake pedal adjustment

hatch789 · Sep 10, 2013

Hi Guys, I'm having an issue with my brakes. -Not the brake shoes... they are fine! I got the star gear adjustment in the vertical slot to work exactly as it should. That worked like a charm. There must be some good brake shoe material still left on my brakes! :thumbsup:

The bigger problem I'm having is that my brake pedal is hitting the frame and bottoming out. In its resting position it only rests about 2 inches above the deck frame so I get only a small amount to push it down. I could compensate by over-tightening the brake shoe on that side, but I would rather not do that. I prefer to fix the issue, not mask it and create other issues. I tried to adjust the collar in this pic, but it did little good. It seems like the torque bar is fixed onto the brake axle by a pin or key.

About the only thing I can think to do at this point is bend my brake pedal bar slightly upwards. -Suggestions would be welcome...

Soundguy · Sep 11, 2013

the left pedalcan be clevis adjusted.. the right pedal.. not much. i answered this already in your other post.. but you may have cam / bushing wear.. or there is really not much brake material left.

hatch789 · Sep 11, 2013

is there any easy way to check how much brake material I have left? I dread the thought of having to remove that big back wheel to check it.

Cbrown9064 · Sep 11, 2013

hatch789 said:
is there any easy way to check how much brake material I have left? I dread the thought of having to remove that big back wheel to check it.

Short answer...no. Not that big of deal to remove/replace wheels. Just don't jack it so high you have to lift it a bunch to get it back on. If done right, you can get a stud started and "roll" the wheel on. Not sure if the 1841 has cast or steel drums. If steel drums, might need to get/make a drum puller. Search the archives for ideas on ow to turn a gear puller into a drum puller.

hatch789 · Sep 12, 2013

So if I put a new brake shoe on my right side, will that raise my brake pedal up higher? Is the reason it is down so low (compared to the left) because it is missing material?

Cbrown9064 · Sep 12, 2013

It may, some, but it sounds like you may have worn cams also. Cams NLA, but could probably be welded and built back up.

Total speculation till you get that thing jacked up and torn apart. Only real way to know.

Did you get a service manual reprint yet?

Soundguy · Sep 12, 2013

ditto. what cbrown9064 said, and as I said before. cams and bushings are LIKELY what may be allowignthe extra play. add in worn shoes and you have to press too far down to get braking.

it may be totally cam / bushing wear.

as for the shoes raising the pedal. not so much.. you just press LESS down... of course when you adjust, that will make a minor lil difference. but i'd be taking it apart before i made any conclusions other than possible worn cam/bushings and shoes.