IML: 1962 Brakes and Parking Brake

[ghquimby@xxxxxxx]

Fellow Imperialists,

 

I got the Imperial back from Chrysler dealer and the brakes went all the way to the floor; there was no pedal pressure whatsoever.  They bled the brakes again and now the pedal goes half way to the floor before I get any pedal pressure.  This is a new master cylinder and all new wheel cylinders.  My mechanic suspected that it might be a problem with the master cylinder since it is different from the one originally on the car.  Should he adjust the master cylinder rod, even though the FSM says specifically not to?

 

I know this is unrelated but the parking brake requires no force whatsoever to go to the floor.  It seems to prevent the car from rolling when it’s parked, but I accidentally forgot to disengage it when taking it for a test drive and it didn’t seem like it was stopping the car.  What should working brakes and parking brake feel like on a 1962 Imperial? I’ve never dared to drive this car above 10 mph.  The car stops, but the pedal is soft, I'm just not sure the car will stop at higher speeds.

  

Graham Quimby

1962 Crown Coupe

 

PS – I’ve been taking pictures as work has progressed on the car.  Someday I’ll post them on the web. If anybody would like to see them, let me know.  Maybe somebody can tell me what the name of the color of the car is?

 

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