Brake pedal not returning

[msbaugh]

Ok guys, this should be an easy one for yall but I'm an idiot and can't figure it out!  I just put my axles in and finished my new ring and pinion installation.  I had to take apart the springs and everything on the rear drum brakes in order to slide the axles in and out a little easier.  Once I got everything put back together I noticed that my brake lights were always on.  Seems that the pedal is not returning all the way up to disengage the brake light switch.  I adjusted the star adjuster for the brake shoes and a have a little bit of resistance from the brake pads when I spin the rear tires.  The heavy tension springs didn't break when I removed them, could the rear pads not be returning all the way out, causing the pedal to stay about an inch lower than its normal resting spot?  I don't think that I would need to bleed the brake lines, I never took the cylinders off, and the reservoir is full of brake fluid.  What causes the pedal to return to the spot it needs to be? I must've missed something!

[dodj]

The switch is in the proportioning valve. More of a balance switch. It's not directly related to pedal position. While you had the rear apart, somehow the switch in the proportining valve shifted due to a lower pressure in the rear system. My guess anyway. Happened to me once. Stomping the pedal a few times fixed it for me. There might be a more technical (correct) way  to fix though?

[Jamiez]

If that doesn't work, I'd try bleeding the brakes, maybe something got in there.
If bleeding doesn't work, my guess is the prop valve is sticking...in which case you'll have to remove it and soak it in evaporust or something similar to try and clean/free it.

[msbaugh]

I've tried mashing the pedal, hell I even drove it quite a little ways. It's pulling to the left so I need to back off the drivers rear drum a little. I can't figure it out, I'm going to bleed all 4 brakes with a buddy this week and see where it gets me. If that doesn't help then I might need some advice on working with the prop. valve

[Changin Gears]

Could be the parking brake also.

[dodj]

Could be the parking brake also.

Very true  And a lot simpler.

[msbaugh]

I checked the parking brake assembly it seems to be working fine

[resq302]

by brake light switch, you mean the stop lights or the brake warning light on the dash?

[msbaugh]

by brake light switch, you mean the stop lights or the brake warning light on the dash?

The actual brake lights at the rear of the car. I can manually push the brake pedal up from the bottom to turn the lights off but when I take my foot out from underneath it just falls back down and engages the switch turning the tailights back on. I have a coffee can keeping it uP until I figure out how the hell to fix it? It needs to sit up about an inch higher than where it's at to be at the proper resting position

[dodj]

The actual brake lights at the rear of the car.

Sorry, I thought you meant the one on the dash.  My mistake.

Do the rar brakes seem to release normally?

[LEMOOREACE]

If the brakes are working okay, try adjusting the brake light switch under the dash so it engages/disengages with the pedal movement....   

[LEMOOREACE]

If the brakes are working okay, try adjusting the brake light switch under the dash so it engages/disengages with the pedal movement....

Oh, its a full inch...  yep, theres a problem...   

[resq302]

Oh, its a full inch...  yep, theres a problem...   

Not necessarily.  If  you have no issues with the vehicle stopping, I would try adjusting the brake light switch on the pedal assembly.  Think about it. It can be just slightly out of adjustment at the switch but as you go further away, the angle needed increases, hence the "inch" needed to keep the pedal up at the floor.

[msbaugh]

Ok I ended up adjusting the drum brakes today so it's no longer pulling to the left, also bled the rear brakes and filled with new fluid, there were a lot of air bubbles in there. After finding and adjusting the pedal nut that moves the position up and down (duh!) I was able to get it perfect. Pedal is much more firm now and not so spongy! Maybe tomorrow ill bleed the front after seeing all that air in there.

Any of y'all who have converted from drum to disc in the rear notice a big difference? It still doesn't stop very well, I'm thinking about doing a conversion, I already did a conversion to discs in the front I'm wondering if it would be worth my while

[resq302]

My 69 charger has factory disc brakes and stops really well.  Our 70 chally has manual drum brakes and also stops fairly well too, however, they do have a different feel than other brakes.  I think stopping also has a lot to do with the material used for the shoes.