71' F250 Brake Job

[fordman]

lightly smack it with a hammer to break the rust loose between the master and the booster. watch for fluid inside the booster.

[martinarcher]

lightly smack it with a hammer to break the rust loose between the master and the booster. watch for fluid inside the booster.

I'll give that a go. Not sure if it is rust though, I could rock it back and forth a little on the studs. I looked at the bendix master cylinder and it looks like there is a lip on the flange that inserts into the brake booster. There's no clip that would hold it onto the booster is there (kinda looks like the newer fuel line disconnect fittings)?

[martinarcher]

Well I finally got the brake booster and master cylinder apart. I ended up pulling the brake booster off the firewall because my back couldn't take much more pulling under the hood. I got them apart on the garage floor by driving a couple screwdrivers between the booster and the master cylinder - that didn't even do it until i heated the master cylinder up with my MAPP gas torch! I have decided the booster is rusty enough to merit a new one. I'll order one up tomorrow. I priced them on Advanced Auto's website and they want $83 for a Cardone brand booster. I'm not familiar with Cardone brake parts. Are they any good? I might call Hovis tomorrow and see what they carry.

Thanks guys!

[fordman]

i think cardone has been around for years. do a web search for them. they have a web site someplace that i found once.

[martinarcher]

Well I ordered their booster. All three local parts stores had the same reman Cardone booster for $180, $110, and $83. I threw an extra $10 at it to get the "loaded" one which comes with the master cylinder. The listing says it is for drum brakes, but has the larger rear resevoir like my original MC. I ordered it and returned the Bendix MC. If I don't like it it, I'll only be out $10.

[AlleyCat]

I've been reading this thread and decided to chime in. Sorry I can't give any advice that hasn't already been posted but you do have a nice truck.

[martinarcher]

Thanks a lot! I appreciate the compliment. I'll keep posting pics as I finish up the job.

[flyboy2610]

When I had a '68 F-100 (it's a trailer now) it had four wheel drum brakes and unequal reservoirs on the MC.

[fordman]

i was wrong about the master cylinder thing. the disc brake master will have a valve in the master for the disc brakes. it turns out that the size of the mastercylinder resiviors is determined by the size of the wheel cylinders in front and back.

[martinarcher]

Cool - thanks for the confirmation guys. I'm glad I returned the Bendix MC and went with one that is an exact replacement of the one I had. I hope I'm still glad once I test drive for the first time. I'll keep everyone posted - I'm waiting for the parts to come in, they said three days.