Thread: Help with manual brake problem 68 Fairlane Fastback

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Seasons greetings everyone. Wondered if I could ask for some help. My 68 Fairlane 500 Fastback is having serious brake problems recently. This car has all new wheel cylinders, brakes. rubber brake lines and master cylinder and horribly has manual brakes. THanksgiving day my car was filled with fixins and I was headed to a family feast when I put my foot on the brake. My foot and pedal slowly went to the floor and I had to pump and down shift to finally stop. Later in the week I crawled under the car and did not see any leaks. I re bled the front brakes but have not yet bled the back ones. After taking mu car for another test drive nothing has changed. Still my foot goes to the floor. Does this mean that I was sold a defective master cylinder? Should I try to bleed the master cylinder again? I haven't been driving this car much since day 1 and the brakes have never been that great. I'm used to power brakes though so thought that this is how they are supposed to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Don't want to yoink and replace the master cylinder again if this problem could be something else. Many thanks for any help. This car is like a rocket on wheels so stopping correctly is of course my priority right now.

Yep, bad Master Cylinder most likely.
When you replaced it, did you bench bleed it first?

More info needed------ Drums all around????? or discs front???????? What brake fluid did you use??

Front brakes hooked to proper part of master? Rear brakes hooked to proper part of master???

Shoes on correctly??? primary/secondary shoes---------shoes adjusted correct amount????????

Sounds like some basics incorrectly done ((Maybe))

How did you bleed master?????? wheel cylinders??????


Pedal goes to floor-----------you probably have incorrect master cylinder/pushrod combo-------

what happens if you stomp the brakes .. ?

Denny, you've been posting nearly as long as I have and should know by now not to get your shorts all knotted up over somebody not answering you. They put the same question on every forum they can find and then don't re-visit all of them to see what answers they got.

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I think you two are baiting these newbies so you can get you post count up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Denny-keep in mind that Tech is in that record heat climate change global warming area down in Florida. Corey and kids got home from Disney Monday nite and were actually glad to get back in some cooler air-said it was 90 at Disney playground

Tech--its been so cold up here nobody has done there Christmas shopping-------And I think Denny is like me-running low on coffee but so many cars in parking lots now that its a long cold walk to store and those lines ---------Meirr? had 29 of 31 cashier lines going with an average of 5-7 carts every one--------$$$$$amounts where mostly 2-3&hundred $$$$$$$$$and more------wasn't room for a rental armored van to make a robbery--

Sorry folks. Been too busy lately. I brought back to the Nerve center a replacement master cylinder. I am installing hopefully tomorrow to see if this will solve my problems. I have drum brakes all the way around, have adjusted all of them to the point where I can barely get the drum back on without forcing it, have new cylinders all the way around and bled them properly. I will properly bench bleed the master this time but thought I did it correctly the first time to the last one. When I slam the brake peddle it hesitates but goes to the floor even if I pump it a few times. This has to be the master cylinder. I'll let you great folks know the outcome. This by the way is the only Ford forum I belong to and I greatly appreciate everyone's help.

Bleeding basics start with the farthest wheel-------

Anymore I put in those Russel Speed Bleeder screws-------you don't have to close the valve while you let the pedal up-----

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...42059868,d.eWE

And you didn't reply about the pushrod for the master-almost everything out there is power discfront/drum rear----------and you have manual drums all around

The guy at the parts store read the description saying this master cylinder with pushrod was for manual brakes drums all the way around so I'm hoping it's correct for the car..

Originally Posted by stotzbotz

... have adjusted all of them to the point where I can barely get the drum back on without forcing it,.... This by the way is the only Ford forum I belong to and I greatly appreciate everyone's help.

From your earlier post, these 2 items jumped out to me.

The shoes get adjusted AFTER you've installed the drums, if you didn't do this prior, this could've been your original problem! See Denny's post for adjusting procedure.

The other item is we aren't a Ford specific forum. While many (like myself) prefer Fords, most all of us are just gearheads and like all the different cars / trucks / boats / planes / what have you?!?!?!

I'm pretty sure you've got your problem solved so I'll wish you and yours a Merry Christmas! Have Fun!!!

Thanks. Hoping everyone has a great Christmas. I too love all vintage cars and as I acquire them it's great to learn how to fix all of the issues they have then enjoy them out on the road again. I'm bleeding and installing the master tomorrow but saving the brake system bleeding and adjusting for Christmas day. Some good brother bonding fun. Afterwards a good feast followed by a 100 foot burnout on a freshly paved country road nearby and a proper testing of the brakes should round off the day. A safe and healthy Holiday Season to all.

Oh here it comes-stuck throttle, faulty brakes, leaky fuel filter, electric pump, hot manifold, crash, fire, no seat belt/harness----------

You got a lot of issues that you don't seem to have a handle on-please be careful of what you do--------------

Ever the optimist eh? lol..
But he's right of course, be safe in the testing of the brakes, the holiday season would be an awful time to have the car wrapped in a tree!

Oh, if you do get the 100 foot burnout going... video evidence will be required!

Couldn't get this site to come up yesterday. Anyway the brakes are all fine now. I'll admit that I didn't do everything mentioned the first time. A new master cylinder which looked more like the original and not with brake line adapters was installed. All brakes bled and adjusted with the wheels on and man what a difference. Only about an inch of play in the peddle and not much travel after that when applying the brakes. Still hate the manual effect but for now at least I can stop the car. I did 3 Christmas burnouts in everyone's honor shortly after we finished and seeing the big grin on my Brother's face as we blasted down the road was a great finish to a magical Christmas. Thanks again everyone and Happy New Year to all.