Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Topic: Removing the MC assembly is fun! (Read 2367 times) previous topic - next topic

Removing the MC assembly is fun!

August 22, 2005, 09:21:50 PM

Well today I started on converting my car over to regular vacuum brakes. After spending about 3 hours laying under my dash, that's not something I care to repeat anytime soon :disappoin On the bright side, I did manage to get 3 of the nuts off the old assembly and back on the new booster (under the dash) with a ratchet, which helped keep me from going insane!

But, at least I got the hard part done (old MC assembly out, vac booster in), now I just gonna bench bleed the new MC, put in the brake lines, and bleed the system.

Just an FYI for anyone doing a conversion like this- on the Turbo Coupe proportioning valve, the front port is 5/16" and the rear one is 3/16". I expected the front one to be 1/4" like the spare mustang prop valve I have, but of course then I wouldn't have to run to the parts store again :rolleyes:

Also...the ABS master cylinder assembly weighs a TON! I figure I gotta be dropping a couple pounds by going to this vac booster/aluminum MC setup.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #1 – August 22, 2005, 10:41:05 PM

i wouldnt mind hearing the complete rundown on this swap when everything is done.my brother is having some problems with his 88 tc brakes.been trying to talk him into this swap for a while now,but his main efforts are going towards big ugly wagon right now.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #2 – August 22, 2005, 10:49:38 PM

Actually, so far it's been pretty straightforward. The biggest problems I had were getting the old MC assembly out (because it's so huge and the brake fittings are a PITA to get at, and because it's so hard to get at everything under the dash) and then getting the new booster in (parts of the wiring harness kept getting behind the booster as I was trying to seat it against the firewall).

Other than that...there's plenty of room to fit the booster, you can tee it right off the vac tree (where the main vac like from the upper manifold hooks up) and there's plenty of room for the MC also. BTW- I'm using a '85 Town Car MC (1" bore), it's a 2 port so I'm doing a 2-port conversion on the car (I'm basing it off the way Maximum motorsports does their kit...you can download the instructions as a pdf on their website). Also I can list part numbers for the brake tees and adapters I used if anyone needs them.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #3 – August 22, 2005, 11:53:27 PM

warned ya it wasn't fun:)

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #4 – August 23, 2005, 12:04:12 AM

Whenever you're getting under the dash to work,pull the seat.It only takes a minute,and then you can lay in the floor with your feet propped up on the rear seat,and it's a lot more comfortable.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #5 – August 23, 2005, 12:19:14 AM

How do ya think I got up under there? My big ass sure as hell isn't gonna fit with the seat still in there.

I'd like to see somebody get at the MC mounting bolts without taking out the seat...you'd have to be some kind of contortionist.

Anyway I knew it wasn't gonna be fun, you scared me when you said those top two bolts would only come out with a wrench! Fortunately I only had to use a wrench on one, got the other with the ratchet + lots of extensions + a flex extension.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #6 – August 23, 2005, 04:05:56 PM

Luckily I haven't had to do that (change the MC).I think if I ever have to,I'll just pull the dash and replace the heater core while I'm at it.Mine seems fine now,but as sure as I do big work under the dash for hours,the core will go bad.I've had to replace that before.Holy moly.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #7 – August 23, 2005, 09:34:02 PM

My heater core is dead but I haven't changed it. I think removing the master cylinder assembly was a whole lot easier than taking the whole dash out.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #8 – August 23, 2005, 10:51:48 PM

Quote from: Red_LX

How do ya think I got up under there? My big ass sure as hell isn't gonna fit with the seat still in there.

I'd like to see somebody get at the MC mounting bolts without taking out the seat...you'd have to be some kind of contortionist.

Anyway I knew it wasn't gonna be fun, you scared me when you said those top two bolts would only come out with a wrench! Fortunately I only had to use a wrench on one, got the other with the ratchet + lots of extensions + a flex extension.

YEAH now I know what I have to go through to replace mine. this is gonna be fun. I can fit though. Im tall but skinny, shouldnt be a problem. What MC should I buy? I need a good one.

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #9 – August 24, 2005, 01:35:50 AM

The real problem I had was fitting my arms up under the dash while still being able to see what I was doing. It was a challenge, that's for sure. I found that disconnecting the brake pedal from the linkage made the MC nuts a little bit easier to get at. Also if you take the plastic panel below the steering column off, it allows you to get the extensions in there to get at the nuts.

Anyway, I got a rebuilt '85 Town Car MC (1" bore, all aluminum, but its the old style that doesn't have a plastic reservoir, $30 at advance auto parts) and I used a 5.0 Mustang booster. Since your car is an '84 you won't have to get all the metric-SAE adapters I did...

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #10 – August 24, 2005, 02:44:12 PM

I think I will be doing this in the near future being that I still dont have any rear brakes

Re: Removing the MC assembly is fun!

Reply #11 – August 28, 2005, 01:29:18 AM

I dont think there is an advance auto parts near here. I think its just oreilly and auto zone. See I want something that is gonna work and last. Im tired of not having brakes. and what about converting to rear disk but not 5 lug? Im not rich enough for 5 lug yet.