DeTomaso Mailing List: March 98, Message #56
     



From: 	Asa Jay Laughton <asajay@concentric.net>

Subject: Re:  Need to know now!

Date: 	Mon, 2 Mar 1998 12:08:35 +0000



This is exactly what was wrong with my Mustang when I first purchased it 15

years ago.  The brake light on the dash was on, and since the parking brake

wasn't working, I just figured it was that.  Aucontrair mon frair, it was a

brake system failure the previous owner decided not to mess with, or was

too ignorant to know (I elect the second scenario).  It seems there was

hard line that had burst on one of the wheels.  Well, this distribution

valve thingy Jack mentioned was forced to the one side (the side that

failed) and blocked off that section, preventing any more fluid from being

lost.  I had to go through the entire brake system to find the failure.

Replace the line, rebuilt all the wheel cylinders, calipers, Master, etc.

New shoes and I was on my way.  I did have to take this distribution valve

apart because the sliding piston had become "stuck" at one end.  It seems

the dufus had the failure long before I purchased the car.  Once rebuilt, I

put it back in and the light was still on.  After reading the Ford factory

manuals, it turns out you really have to nail the pedal hard after the

failure has been fixed in order to center it again and get the light to go

out.  I did, it did, and I've had happy brakes, and darn good brakes ever

since.



02 or .03

Asa Jay







At 23:36 02/28/98 +0000, JDeRyke wrote:

>Just sent you  a post re the "distribution block". It has a shuttle valve

>inside that turns on a warning light if you use too much brake fluid on one

>end or the other of the car. The shuttle inside sometimes gets stuck at one

>end and leaves the red lite on, blocks the bleeding of air and might even

stop

>the brakes on one end from working. I canned mine years ago; a simple look at

>the master cyl will tell you if you're low on fluid.  J DeRyke

>

>

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