What is this thing called??

[Madsen1970F100]

Hi,
What is this thing called? Its the junction for all the brake lines. I saw a post on here some time ago that detailed which port connects to which wheel and which goes to brake master cylinder. I cannot find that post to save my project! I violated a cardinal rule by forgetting to take lots of reference pictures of the brake line set up. Even worse I threw out the brake line that goes to the rear so have nothing to reference in bending a new one, though I don't think it wil be that hard since it is mostly straight. Secondly where does this thing mount to? I thought I remembered taking it off chasis but have seen pics of it mounted to the steering gear box. Any insights are greatly appreciated. Might try my hand at bending brake lines tomorrow, if weather permits....

[westco]

brake proportioning valve?

[basketcase0302]

Eric,
It's not a proportioning valve, it's simply a "splitter" to direct the brake fluid. The bottom holes in your picture will go to the front (you can blow through it to verify all three ports are open). One in from the master cylinder / one out to each front wheel. And the rear simply goes from the MC to the rear wheels, (you can blow through it and only have flow through one port).
You might be able to see it in the right side of this picture, I hope it helps.

[Hawkrod]

That particular part does act as a distribution block but it is properly called a pressure differential valve. It has a moving piston that operates a switch that turns on a light if you lose pressure in one half of the braking system. Hawkrod

[fordman]

they have to line up with the correct one. such as the rear master line goes to the front brakes. and the front master line goes to the rear brakes. so the corresponding holes will match up to those lines. somewhere on the site is a diagram of this valve and it will show which lines go to which holes. the rear line will only be one to one. the frotn brakes will be one supply line and two outgoing lines. so thos holes will be close to the input side.

EDIT HERE IS THE POST I WAS THINKING OF.

ah also i have a question about the dist block and valve. if the valve does get fluid eqalized from all or to all four drums then it is possible for the brakes lines to bleed off from the front to the rears?
so if i had a bad rear line the fronts could eventually loose there fluid and not work? i think this happened to me. i had no rear brakes due to a bad line. but then my fronts went bad. i didn't loose fluid but i lost the pressure for the front brakes. once i bleed the fronts they worked again.

No, there are seals inside the distribution block which isolate the front and rear circuits. Here's a schematic of the distribution block:



I suppose it's possible that the seals have failed, but I don't think I've ever heard of that happening before. However, the only two common factors between the front and rear brake circuits are the master cylinder and the distribution block. If you're losing pressure from one side into the other, then the seals in one of them are bad.

Is there a check ball or something in the dist block??the trouble im having is simmular,, my left front bleeds out fine and others will bleed just a little and then nothing at all,,,what could this be??

No, there's no check ball. (see the schematic above)

I'd first check the condition of the flexible lines, since they've definitely been known to go bad internally, without any external indication, essentially pinching off the line and not allowing fluid to travel through. However, I'd venture a guess that there's still air in the line, and it'll simply need bled out.

so what you all are saying is that i can put the brake lines any were on the dist block and it won't matter. this is drum brakes all around. any information would be a help all i have left is run brake lines and i will have a rolling chassis.

No, that would screw up the valve inside which reads the front and rear brake circuit pressure and trips the warning light when the pressures differ. In order to have your warning light work correctly, the lines have a specific port they should go to.



1 - Rear
2 - Left-front
3 - Right-front
4 & 5 - Master cylinder

[71highboy]

Eric,
It's not a proportioning valve, it's simply a "splitter" to direct the brake fluid. The bottom holes in your picture will go to the front (you can blow through it to verify all three ports are open). One in from the master cylinder / one out to each front wheel. And the rear simply goes from the MC to the rear wheels, (you can blow through it and only have flow through one port).
You might be able to see it in the right side of this picture, I hope it helps.
[ Image ]

man basketcase thats a clean engine

[basketcase0302]

71highboy on Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:35 am

basketcase0302 wrote:Eric,
It's not a proportioning valve, it's simply a "splitter" to direct the brake fluid. The bottom holes in your picture will go to the front (you can blow through it to verify all three ports are open). One in from the master cylinder / one out to each front wheel. And the rear simply goes from the MC to the rear wheels, (you can blow through it and only have flow through one port).
You might be able to see it in the right side of this picture, I hope it helps.
[ Image ]


man basketcase thats a clean engine

It's gotten a little dirtier the past few months!
I'll have a springtime cleaning scheduled for the engine compartment for sure.

[Madsen1970F100]

Thanks all, now where is it mounted exactly? Chasis or steering gearbox or doe it really not matter? ANd I hope my engine looks as good once I get it back together!

[seattle67]

They were originally mounted to the frame. Kieth has a picture of one on the photo gallery, it's a bit hard to see but may help out.

[Madsen1970F100]

Thanks, that really helps. I remember taking it off the frame but was a little unsure of exactly where. This really helps. Thanks.

[fordman]

that pictures says it all. just look for the bolt hole in the drivers side of the frame.