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I've been noticing my 77 F150 hasn't been shifting so well... as if the clutch doesn't quite disengage all the way when I press in on the pedal. I went nosing around under the truck earlier. It looks like the pivot bracket is a little bent... makes it look like it's all about a half inch or so off. I also have an F350 (but with a 6 cyl) and went to look at it. That one looks straight compared to the F150. I see these bracket assemblies are available on ebay. Question is... is it common for these brackets to get out of whack? What would cause this?
Being bent is a common issue and so are the holes being elongated and or out of round. There is also a round nylon bushing inside each side of the Z bar that it pivots on. Maybe start with adjusting the bracket on the frame...that might take some slop out of it. Otherwise I'd be shopping online at Jeff's Bronco Graveyard to aquire all new parts to fix it right. That's where I buy most of the parts I need for my 76. Fair prices and shipping doesn't kill you.
X2 see about making a clutch adjustment, and insp the round nylon bushing for being good. Odd that just the part got bent, but I guess it could happen.
Thanks for those tips. I looked at Jeff's for the parts... only I did not see a nylon bushing listed... but found all the other parts. Tomorrow, I will go back and see if the bushings are still there. Perhaps they are worn away, and that's the reason why I'm having problems to begin with. The adjustment on the rod is already all the way to the end. I remember that getting adjusted out all the way 6 years ago when the clutch was last replaced. I will look into ordering all new pieces before the week is over.
I suppose after nearly 50 years, all those parts simply wear and/or warp due to use and always being under pressure.
Last diagram, on part #7507 (the bracket that bolts to the frame). See the V arrow, top arrow line is pointing to the nylon bushing. Also maybe both #7543 is it?
After studying those diagrams and then going back under there to look closer at what I have, I saw that I had good bushings still in place. At one point, I noticed that one of the bolts that held the bracket to the frame rail wasn't showing many threads from the bottom. Digging my finger around at the top of that bolt, it seemed I could get my thumbnail under the head of the bolt. Then I realized I could see the outboard side of this bracket from the wheel well, and well, it was obvious it wasn't tightened all the way down! The aft end of the bracket was at least a quarter inch off the rail. I got a wrench and snugged it up good and then drove it. Wow... what a difference that made! Shifts great now! Not only does the clutch disengage all the way as it should when pressing the pedal, but now the truck taking off from a dead stop is far more smoother than it used to be! It's so smooth taking off that it doesn't even feel like I am driving the same truck!
Later I am going to go back and loosen it up like it was and then spray some cleaner in there and get all that gunk out of there. Getting the old dirt and grime off the rail and bracket will let me have a better look to make sure nothing is damaged looking.
Cool that it was a loose bolt and not a bent bracket. That grease and grim is rust preventative lol. Now get a creaper and get to rolling around under there amd do a "Nut and Bolt" check. And drag a grease gun with ya for the stuff that needs it.
Clutch Pivot Bracket
