Ford 600 truck brakes

Paul in MN

Well-known Member
I bought a 1984 F600 and have been wondering about the hydraulic brakes. There is a power steering pump dedicated to the brake booster (I think it's called "hydraboost"). The wheel brakes are out of adjustment so that it takes 2 stabs on the brake pedal to make it stop. Is this brake system similar to what we find on our PUs that had drum brakes? Can I adjust the wheel brakes in a similar fashion as we used to do with drum brake PUs? My confusion comes from some old posts on this forum describing Ford truck brakes as something very different, maybe similar to British trucks. I have worked on the brakes on old IH LoadStars, and am happy to get away from the vacuum boost system they had.

I appreciate any hints and tips you might have to offer on these Ford brakes.

Thank You.

Paul in MN
 
I would think the brakes would be very similar to what you have worked on, but may have self-adjusters. NOT sure what the "British-like" reference you saw was all about.

I would try bleeding the whole brake system BEFORE adjusting the brakes, to get rid of any trapped air, that has the same effect as the brakes needing to be set up.
 

Doe it have the Hyd. released spring parking brake also on the rear wheels?

You can tell by the large can at the backing plate with a
Larger steel Hyd. line in the end of it.
Also should be a yellow knob on the dash for parking.

If it has this it is a Hydraulic Lucas-Girling Brake system.

If not then it will adjust with a Star Wheel like your used too.
Tom
 

Forgot if it is the Lucas system there a two star wheels for adj. at each wheel at like 8 and 4 o'clock.

Tom
 
Due to the "mechanics body" on this beast and the way it hangs down around the wheels, I have not crawled under it to see what is present on the back plates. At the left side of the dash board, there is a mechanical level which activates the parking brake. It feels like this is a cable system going to the rear wheels (and fortunately it still works). This truck is a former NSP power company truck with a bucket lift. It has a Detroit V-8 diesel mated to an Allison automatic. The tranny does not have a "park" position, so the parking brake is essential.

Thanks for your input!

Paul in MN
 
Thanks for the input. I had not thought about bleeding the brakes prior to adjusting, and that is a darn good idea. I suspect this system requires a common DOT 3 fluid. If something else is needed, please give me a heads up.

Paul in MN
 
(quoted from post at 10:34:11 10/19/16) Thanks for the input. I had not thought about bleeding the brakes prior to adjusting, and that is a darn good idea. I suspect this system requires a common DOT 3 fluid. If something else is needed, please give me a heads up. I WOULD TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE FLUID before I added any. I don't think the pump style used brake fluid in the pumps on those.

Paul in MN
 
I have worked on dozens of Ford trucks with Lucas-Girling hydraulic brakes.Most, but not all had a hydraulic actuated park brake. It could also have an expanding shoe set-up on the back of the transmission, where the drive shaft connects. The wheel adjusters are part of the wheel cylinders and actually are made into the brake cylinder piston. Parts are terribly expensive for these and you can't get them at any run of the mill parts store.
 

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