Help...brake pad/hardware question

[tonpartain]

I need some help putting my "new" front disc brakes together. The rotors are on and I understand how to put the pads/caliper on the rotor. However, I can't remember how to secure it with the brake hardware.

I'm assuming that the metal bracket slides between the bottom of the caliper and the spindle. But how/where does the little metal spring go? Does it fit between the metal bracket and the spindle? Also, do the tabs (ends) on the spring bend upward or downward?

[tonpartain]

I got them on...

[rjewkes]

how did they go on i'll b e doing this swap as soon as i can get my next truck?

P.s. autozone and oreilys can get the mastercylinder and power booster together for 85.00 so you'd only need the proportioning valve and Brake booster brackets.

[thorn1968]

I was wondering if you could post a pic of the brake hose routing...I just changed my pads...previous owner had the truck converted to disk. My left front drags often after normal stop-and-go driving. I adjusted the rod between the master and the brake booster, that helped a little, actualy alot. I've had the front brakes just stay locked...it took me from 5:30pm till 9pm to about 5 miles, I finaly had to call a tow truck to go the last 3 miles home. Anyway...since adjusting the rod I've only had the left front drag a little here and there. My lines don't look like they are routed correctly, or are too short. I was hoping someone had a pic and how long the line is suposed to be for a 2 wheel drive.

[68F250]

thorn, I've heard of folks doing the disc brake conversion and accidently getting the left and right brake hoses swaped around. Maybe that might be your case....

[thorn1968]

Barry, would having the wrong proportioning valve cause this?

[FORDification]

Using a drum brake master cylinder with residual valves might. If you've got a disc-brake master cylinder and a proportioning valve (instead of a drum-brake distribution block) then you're OK there.

Brake-line length or routing won't have any effect on whether a brake drags. Are the rubber hoses new? Used hoses sometimes go bad and pinch off the fluid from the inside where you can't see it.

[68F250]

The wrong proportioning valve will screw up the front/rear balance but won't cause the fronts to drag. I'm guessing the wrong master cylinder? The drum master cylinder has 10psi residual valves and the disc master cylinder has 2psi? front and 10psi rear. The residual valves keep a small amount of pressure in the lines even when the brakes are released. Too much residual pressure will cause disc brakes to drag. To tell the difference in the masters, the drum master has a 1" bore and the disc master has a 1.125"? bore (the memory's going). Anyway, the disc master is bigger than 1".

If the left and right hoses are swapped around, they come out at a different angle and look funny along with being a tad too short.

[thorn1968]

About all I know about the master is that it has a large rear resivour for the front brakes and one that's smaller for the rear brakes. Arent the ones for the drums the same size for front/rear? Is there an easy way to tell the diff between a distribution block and a prop valve? Based on what I've seen, it looks like all the hard lines are original, not sure if they used new hoses. If I get a chance tonight I'll try and snap a few pics and post 'em tonight. Then hopefuly y'all(been in the south a while) can tell me what I'm looking at.

[FORDification]

The proportioning valve on the right is the '73-'77 style which mounts on top of the steering box, immediately under the master cylinder. The '78-'79 trucks used a slightly different style which was mounted on the back of the front crossmember. However, all '67-'72 drum-brake trucks have the exact same distribution block.

[thorn1968]

awsome pics...bad news for me...mine's the drum block