Hi there,
Could someone tell me if the thrust bearing on a diaphragm clutch in a 1988 F150 with a NP 4 speed should be touching the pressure plate?

There is no return spring on the fork.The slave cylinder internal spring seems to push the bearing on to the pressure plate,and there is no adjustment top or bottom.

Could I have the wrong fork,and bell housing?? Fork Part No E4TA-7515-DA,and this matches the bell housing.This fork and bell housing also apparently fits some model Mustangs.

 

Yes, the throw out bearing is on the diaphragm.
The light pressure isn't an issue or cause it to wear out fast, its designed that way.
No worries.

Where did you see it say that it fits a mustang. From early 80s it was a pull style clutch with the pivot on the passenger side, where as the truck has pivot on the drivers side, and is a push style. And I know that the 87+ has an alum bellhousing specific to the mustang.
The old 65-73 mustangs had a bellhousing that used the same bolt pattern as the truck 4spd. I've never used a truck bell in any of my mustangs, but its getting tougher to find the old ones so ill try one some day.

 

I read somewhere that it was Mustang.I typed the fork No. into
Google,and somebody had one for sale,he had a picture of it,and it was the same bell housing.This truck was probably assembled in Australia,so some of the parts are probably different to the USA assembled ones.

This truck was an auto,And I purchased a wreck with this manual setup,and a sign of things to come,was that someone had welded another pivot point an inch lower on the pedal.Since I fitted the trans,I have had all sorts of trouble to get the clutch to release.I now have an 1 1/8 inch master cylinder,which makes it rather heavy but it works.This is why I was wondering if the bell housing was the right one,for this truck.

The clutch pivot is on the left hand side and it is a push clutch.I will try and find picture of the bell and send it.

 

Untamnd,
Here is a photo of a similar bell housing.

Ford 289 302 351 4 Speed Aluminum Manual Bellhousing Hydraulic Clutch 164 Tooth | eBay

 

Yeah that's a hydraulic clutch bellhousing. Mustangs never had that until 05.
However, it was the same fork as mechanical setup used in the classic mustangs.
It's not a direct interchangeable part, but it would work in a bind. The 164 tooth flywheel was the larger one.
The fork would be the same. Bellhousing is a truck piece.

Are you not in the United States. If you have this current setup working than I'd just leave it. But having the pivot moved lower on the pedal means someone wanted more throw for the master but results in a harder pushing pedal. I think they were trying to solve a problem without replacing parts. This is a common setup here in the USA so replacement parts are plentiful. If you wanted to order a complete master/slave/hose for your truck, and move the pivot back to stock, I'm sure it would fix all your problems. (But if you're not here its tricky to find these parts I'm sure so previous owner made due with what he could find)

 

H
Untamnd,
Well, the previous owner was a tow truck operator.BY moving the pivot point down an inch,they not only made it harder,it also wouldn't push straight,

I Had a new slave,and overhauled the 7/8 master,no go,So I bought a Wilwood compact 1 1/8 bore brake master,works beautifully,a little harder,but okay.

The problem has gone away,but I don't know what the problem was,all is well that ends well,