1974 Vega, how to convert power brakes to manual?

[Bill K]

Hi Chuck,
Great idea to try clamping off the brake hoses I will try this. My car does not have any s-10 components at all; the brakes are all 1979 Monza to the best of my knowledge.
Bill

[Rickracer]

Have you adjusted the rear shoes? They play a HUGE part in pedal feel and travel. You want to adjust them up till they just drag a little. I also like to pull the E-brake handle up 3 clicks and adjust them till you can't quite turn them by hand, then they should release clean when you release the E-brake. If they still feel mushy, you've either got air in there, or a bad master. The best way to check for a bad master is to step on the pedal gradually and see if it will go to the floor, then step on it quickly and with some impact, and see if it's different. If it's high and tight when you hit it quickly, and low and mushy when you hit it slowly, the master is bypassing and faulty. Many people "pump up" a brake pedal, then bleed, that's NOT the best way to do it, if there IS air in the system, pumping it tends to aerate the fluid. The best way is to open the bleeder farthest from the master, "push" the fluid out, close the bleeder and repeat. Sometimes, I have a helper mash the pedal, then crack the lines at the master to begin with, just to avoid pushing any air that's near the master all the way through the system. If I get air there, I will repeat until there isn't any, then start bleeding the rest of the system at the right rear. If you determine/decide you don't have a bad master, I would recommend bleeding the whole system, just to be sure there is no air, getting fresh fluid through the whole system is something that should be done at least every couple years anyway.

[cosvega76]

Good points, Rick!

Chuck