i started this morning with the brakes.

take old master off truck, without breaking any of the 19 year old bolts or lines.

fill the new master, then bench bleed it.

1 quart of fluid, 5 pumps, and it is good to go.

this is going to easy i am thinking.

walk out to the truck, new master in hand, and climb up.
go to put master on, and it don't fit????

the mount on the new master is 1/8 inch wider than the old one.

oh well, back into the garage, break out the die grinder and look for the tips.

the kids must have been in the toolbox again. the tips are gone!!!

oh well, put the die grinder away, and break out the round file.

45 minutes later, the holes are properly egg shaped so it will now fit on the truck.

master bolts rite on, and the lines all fit in place.

adjust the rear brakes, taking 32 'clicks' of the adjuster to get them snug.

go to bleed brakes, and all 4 19 year old bleeders open, thanks to the never-seize that i put on when i got the truck.


now for the big test.

fire the beast up.

the starter is bed, but it fires just before the batteries die.

do a forward and reverse test of the brakes, and they pass driveway roll.

take it out on the road, and do a low speed test, then a high speed test.

YEA!!!! i have brakes again!!!

pull back into the driveway, and go to test the parking brake.

DAG NAB IT!!!! BOTH DANG PARKING BRAKE CABLES SNAP!!!
now i have to pull the rear brakes apart.


i swear, this dang truck is possessed by the devil himself!!!

 

I was wondering what was going to be the hitch in your story? Glad you didn't rear end anyone!

 

Nice,keep up the good work you will get there.I own 3 fords 85-88 brake lines on two trucks brake the same day.Then the third truck lost master a week later.

 

just as a follow up to those wondering about the mounting dilemma. i took off a master with the 1 1/8 piston used on the F250/F350, and installed the F450 1 5/8 piston master.
the mounting boss on the 450 master is 1/8 inch wider, so the holes need to be egged for it to mount to the power booster. other than that, it was a bolt in.

and for the first time in 19 years, the brake pedal does not sink to the floor when you sit at a light.

 

i have the same problem with my brakes...at the light, brakes sink to tthe floor. where did you get the master from. was it new, used, rebuilt? at the parts store what should i ask for, meaning what year, etc. I've got a 92, would i ask for a 92 450 master? questions, questions, questions

 

i assume the master is for a 88. i am not sure. i just asked the guys at my napa store to get it for me. it was not a bolt in though. i had to modify the mounting flange to fit the brake power booster, cause the 450 master uses a 1/8 inch wider mount.

 

and to continue the fun, the devil showed up again today, and bit me in the butt again.

what i thought was an engine oil leak polluting the ground and the whole underside of the truck, is rather a trans leak at the cooler. the trans was 4 quarts low.

i finally had the rite lighting to find the leak, and was standing on the tire step looking down at the front of the engine. after 10 minutes of not seeing anything, i was getting ready to say the heck with it when i noticed the puddle on the ground, and a drip falling into it.
so i waited and watched, and the dripping oil is coming out of the hose that jackets the trans pressure line.
so now i have that narrowed down.

at least i don't have to worry about the passenger side of the truck rusting for a while.

 

After one year of no brakes, and replacing everything on them, booster, master, vacuum pump, front brakes, back brakes, I finally bought a master cylinder from Ford($200), and guess what, I now have BRAKES.

 

Man TJC, sounds like you are having a heck of a time over there in NJ. At least you are getting it fixed

 

I know the feeling. I went out last Sat. to help my wife on her mail route. She blew a caliper and low a behold I blew a steel line on the truck that I was planning on fixing soon. I am now fixing now.

 

How about the pedal force? Even with Power brakes, it had to increase.

 

His pedal is probably slightly higher than what it would be if the standard master cyl was installed providing he has a properly working vac. pump and booster; but with all the other problems i dought it would be noticed!

 

well, as far as pedal force goes, if i am reading what you are implying, all you have to do is look at the brake pedal now and they will face plant you into the windshield.

true power brakes.

i can't wait to put the car hauler on back and try towing something.

i have been down the past week with a kidney stone, and have not gotten anything done on anything.
all the parts are here to put everything together, i just don't have the strength or will to do it yet.

 

Sounds like I need to do this after I check the rest of the brake system. My F-350 stops ok but the pedal goes almost to the floor with very little force.