Replacing my Brakes Options

[purple]

This weekend was step one of two of replacing the brakes on my '76. The previous owner upon selling to me told me that he had rebuilt the front calipers and the brake fluid looked very nice and fresh in the master cylinder. Looks like a nice fresh tank of ATE super blue..... I will find out later that what's in that tank doesnt look like what's in the brake lines....

I started this project because when turning the wheels in the rear to set timing, I can hear the left rear brake dragging, and loudly. I feared it was a bearing, but it wasnt. The brake was dragging. I lift the car and put it on 4 jackstands, the evil kind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I need some proper pin-thru stands. I have all 4 tires under the car in case the car decides it wants to smoosh me.

I'm using 4 new rebuilt calipers from Eric Shea. With these calipers are 4 new rotors, new front bearings, new seals, 4 new softlines, all new pads. A total of $1038 in parts from Eric.

From the pic...the parts are gorgeous!

[John]

If you really want a firm brake pedal, you can replace the stock 17mm master cylinder with a larger master cylinder.

The 19mm master cylinders offer a much more firm pedal. However, you will have to go through this agonizing process all over again.

I suspect that if you keep bleeding the brakes, eventually you will get the firm pedal that you are looking for.

I also suspect that you got yourself used to the "impossible to press" brake pedal that you had when your brake lines were restricting fluid flow and your calipers were sticking or stuck. Now that your brakes are more functional, learn how to drive the car.

In my experience, you will find that you use the brakes less the better you get at driving.

Good luck with it.