What could cause the brake pedal height to be high in hydraulic systems?

A high brake pedal height in hydraulic systems is often caused by an incorrectly adjusted master cylinder pushrod. The pushrod connects the brake pedal to the master cylinder and is responsible for transferring the force from the pedal to the hydraulic brake system. If the pushrod is misadjusted, it can create additional travel needed at the pedal, which raises the pedal height when depressed.

When the pushrod is not set to the correct dimension, it can prevent the master cylinder from fully engaging or disengaging, leading to a feeling of the pedal being higher than normal. This situation can affect brake performance and responsiveness, making it crucial for the adjustment to be accurate.

While worn brake linings and damaged brake pads can affect brake performance, they typically result in a lower pedal height rather than a higher one as they would decrease the overall friction material thickness and can lead to more pedal travel. Similarly, a weak pedal return spring would not cause an increase in pedal height either; rather, it might contribute to a feeling of sluggishness in returning to the normal position.