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1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

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Old Jul 17, 2023 | 05:20 PM
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Brake Help

Hey all,

recently converted to a dual master cylinder and power brakes. I got everything bled and adjusted all four to have a slight drag. Only thing is that I can’t get the fronts to lock up under hard braking. Pedal isn’t soft by any means.

many help/advice? Aside from it not locking all four, the truck brakes better than before it feels like. And I don’t have the booster hooked to manifold vacuum yet.

1966 F100 drums in all four corners
 
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Old Jul 17, 2023 | 07:01 PM
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Have you tried it with the booster hooked up?
 
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Old Jul 17, 2023 | 09:09 PM
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I did after I posted this. Same thing, but much easier braking
 
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Old Jul 19, 2023 | 10:38 PM
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First, did the rears lock up since they would be the first to do so and then you would adjust pressure differential so they all lock up at the same time. Locking up has little to do with the adjustment of the shoes unless you were wildly off on some.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2023 | 01:49 PM
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Yes, rears locked first. No need for a pressure differential, it’s drums all the way around with a MC made for drums, and RPV valves for front and back at 10lbs
 
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Old Jul 21, 2023 | 02:42 PM
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Could you lock up fronts and rears with the original single pot master cylinder? Which master cylinder did you go with?
 
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Old Jul 21, 2023 | 03:19 PM
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Yes I could. The new MC is a new made one for a 67-72 truck, 1in bore. So everything should line up since the original mc was also a 1in bore.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2023 | 04:32 PM
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I can find at least 6 different master cylinders that Ford used for Drum/Drum systems between 1967 and 1972. Some of them used different length push rods. What push rod are you using? The one your truck came with like this one in the picture? This one is 4 31/32" center length. Just thinking if there's a chance it needs a bit more length to reach full fluid movement.



 
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Old Jul 21, 2023 | 05:21 PM
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Is the rear port on the MC hooked to the front brakes?
 
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Old Jul 22, 2023 | 10:29 AM
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Yes the rear port is hooked to the front brakes. The pushrod is adjustable, I adjusted the pedal so it’s just touching the bump stop, the pushrod from the truck is not usable because brackets for the booster push it out further from the fire wall.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2023 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by 1966F100SC
The pushrod is adjustable, I adjusted the pedal so it’s just touching the bump stop.
I wonder if you need more free play in the pedal adjustment, rather than touching the bump stop. If the rod is not allowing a full return of the MC piston, then the channel that replenishes the piston is not fully open. I think this would affect the rear reservoir more that the front due to how they are stacked in the cylinder. So try adding a bit more lash there - maybe 1/8" of rod play or so, just to ensure that is not the problem.
 
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Old Jul 23, 2023 | 01:27 AM
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Originally Posted by 1966F100SC
Yes, rears locked first. No need for a pressure differential, it’s drums all the way around with a MC made for drums, and RPV valves for front and back at 10lbs
Well I have that valve right below my master so that I can adjust and have them both lock up AT the same time. I had to adjust my pushrod also by adding a piece of round bar in front of the pushrod rather than searching for pushrods. I used this to make the measurement.


 
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Old Jul 23, 2023 | 11:41 AM
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Added more lash and same thing. Again with the prop valve, why would it be needed? The bore size and size of lines are the exact same as original, so there should be no need for it, and Ford didn’t have one originally, and these are drum brakes all around.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2023 | 01:03 AM
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I forgot you have a booster. As tbm3fan points out, the stub out of the booster needs to be the right length so it's not holding the MC open, and also pushing it full travel. You might want to double check that is set correct.

About the proportional, my modified truck needs one, otherwise the rears will lock up very early. I think it might be a function of the large tires, heavy engine, short wheelbase.

I've never heard this, but I'm wondering if there is something about wheel cylinder bore diameter, and brake shoe size, and balance between front and rears on a single pot vs dual pot. A basic schematic of the hydraulic systems are pretty equivalent, but not the same.
Do you know how your brakes compare to a 1967 drum / drum truck?
 
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