Hard brake pedal. Any ideas?

[lilwendal]

Hey everyone.  Heres my delima.  Everything in the brake system is new.  Manual disc on the front with drum in the rear.  The brake pedal is very hard and I have limited braking action.  Cannot lock them up if I tried. I know I have no restrictions cause everything bled OK.  I'm using the A body manual disc master from NAPA. No pulling or draging noticed and the pedal does feel about right for a manual car but as hard as I push I cannot increase braking action.  Gotta be a bad from stock master right?  I'm thinking of throwing on a  manual drum master on just to check the rest of the system before ordering another manual disc master.  Any other ideas out there?  Thanks in advance.

[Musicman]

What did you have before... If it originally had power brakes you may have the wrong pedal ratio... other than that, you can also start by checking the items listed here... http://www.piratejack.net/troubleshooting/trouble_pages/trouble12.htm

[lilwendal]

Right pushrod. The car was power drum before but I used backing plate and push rod from a manual drum car.
I do not believe its a linkage issue I,m no slouch but I'm pushing so hard it feels like I could brake something.

[lilwendal]

Great link Musicman!  Thanks

[PA Dodger]

Did you put new wheel cylinders in the back? What bore size? Same thing applies here as the master cylinder. They need to be the smallest dia. you can find... usually 7/8". Otherwise, as you've found out, it takes 2 feet and a prayer. Ask me how I know....
Dan   

[lilwendal]

PA,  Thanks for that hint as well.  I'm sure they are the larger bore wheel cylinders. I have to pull the center pig again and double check my gear back lash and I'll swap those wheel cyliders out then.  I did notice that they stock different bores sizes cylinders.
I'll also check the brake pedal ratio that the link above metioned and raise the push rod hole if needed.