Low Pedal

CAUSES
- Excessive clearance between shoes/linings and drums. The brake pedal will feel solid and the vehicle will have sufficient braking power, but the pedal travel will be excessive (greater than 1/3 of total travel).

NOTE: If the brake system is operating properly, the amount of pedal travel is proportional to the distance that the brake system has to extend the pads or shoes. This distance is normally controlled by the adjustment of the rear shoes/linings, since the disc brakes readjust themselves with every application. Keep in mind that if the shoes/linings are loose, the emergency brake will also be loose, since it applies the rear brakes.



- Excessive lateral runout (rotor wobble) or loose/worn wheel bearings. The pads/linings can be knocked further back into the calipers than usual by excessive rotor wobble. This requires more brake fluid behind the pistons to extend the pads back into contact with the rotors. This results in longer pedal travel.

WHAT TO CHECK FOR
- Check the adjustment of the rear shoes/linings, and adjust if necessary.

NOTE: The shoes/linings are normally automatically adjusted. If you have to adjust the brakes more than once, you should inspect the operation of the auto-adjusters. Remove, clean, and lubricate the automatic adjusters as necessary.

- Check the wheel bearing adjustment, and replace if necessary.
- If a pedal pulsation is also occurring, inspect the rotors for excessive lateral runout. Resurface or replace if necessary.