Re: [ihc] Brakes, power steering

["T.R.E.Jr." <T_R_E_Jr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

---I would say it was the booster myself. Sounds like you performed the test
correctly, though it has been a while since I did it myself. The first thing
you do is get the air out of the system. Pump the brakes with the motor
running and release the pedal. Shut the motor down and press the brake once,
release, press again, release, press a third time and hold. Each time you
pressed the brake pedal, its height should have become greater. Now start
the motor with your foot still holding the pedal, it should sink 1" to 2"
but no more than 2". A new brake system should sink no more than 1" to
1-1/4". My guess is that you have a collapsing line, a leak in the system...
maybe even in the master cylinder itself between the two pistons. I don't
see a proportioning valve being needed seeing as how you have dual disc, but
you would need the emergency cut off and brake warning switch.

---Cardone brake booster is $78.79 (#5473150) and the Master Cylinder is
$24.79 (#102693) for the `94 Mustang. Don't know if that will work for the
Scout, but I can't remember what year Cadillac had the rear disc. That would
be the new cheap-o plastic reservoir (not including the reservoir with the
master cylinder) and the reservoir I can't find a part number for, would
have to be from a junk yard or ... I will try a cross reference on the
master cylinder to other vehicles on AC-Delco's site.

---Master Cylinder for a `79 Lincoln Versailles is $16.80 (Cardone #101604)
and the booster is $152.70 (Cardone #527078)

---Thank you,
-T.R.E.Jr.
-`73 Scout II (StoneThrower)
-`51 Farmall H (Heinz)
-`49 IH fridge (presently unnamed and in need of a compressor)
-`49 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-door Sedan (Papapalooza)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Bongo" <dbongo@domain.elided>
To: "IHC Digest" <ihc-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2003 6:11 PM
Subject: [ihc] Brakes, power steering


> I've got questions about the brakes and power steering on my Scout.
> It's a '74 RHD with a 258 engine and 727 tranny.  I use (or abuse) it
> delivering mail.
>
> First, the power steering.  I've got a small leak on the P/S pump.  Not
> a big deal, but I have to top it off every 10 days or so.  After 6
> months, I'm growing tired of this activity.  It is (IIRC) a pump from a
> '72 IHC pickup.  On a custom bracket, since the steering box is mounted
> INSIDE the frame (rather than outside) the stock 258 P/S pump bracket
> won't work.  Based on this vague description, I doubt very much if
> anybody can answer this, but I'll give it a shot: if I find that fixing
> or replacing this pump is cost-prohibitive, and go with a different one,
> where can I locate information on determining which pump and which
> bracket to get?
>
> Second, the brakes.  I have the TSM rear disc brake conversion (with the
> Caddie calipers) and the PO told me that he changed the master cylinder
> out for a dual-disc model, and I believe that the booster is integral to
> the unit.  Anyways, the brakes have felt a bit funny of late, so I tried
> to remember the testing procedure.  I pumped the brakes while the truck
> was off, and never really got the stiff pedal I expected - I just kept
> getting the "normal" resistance I expected.  When I turned the truck on,
> the pedal didn't really go down any.  As I recall, this is indicitive of
> a bad booster or a vaccuum leak.  The truck stops just fine, and with
> minimal effort on my part (believe me, I'd know if it required massive
> additional force to stop it).  I can't diagnose a vacuum leak (don't
> know how, probably don't have the tools) but I can probably get my
> mechanic to do it for free.  If that checks out OK and the booster is
> bad, where do I go?
>
> Would a non-power system be viable (less to go wrong, but more effort to
> stop)?  Am I running a non-power system now?
>
> Or should I be considering going to hydra-boost, if the cylinder is bad?
>
> Or just chalk it up to bad luck and use the same basic setup again?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave