[DeTomaso] Master Cylinder replacemnet

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/16/08 5:34:10 AM, panteradon at gmail.com writes:

> I talked with another Pantera owner and he siad that he had bought an 
> adapter so that a standard Ford brake master cylinder could be used.  Does anyone 
> know anything about that.  Where to get one?  How much it would cost?
> 
All Pantera vendors sell a cheap aluminum adapter that bolts onto a 
presumably good booster and allows the use of a different bolt-pattern master cylinder. 
But these adapters also sometimes give trouble. First, if the thickness of 
the adapter is not perfect for your particular car, the M.S. will be pushed away 
from the adapter a tiny bit. When you bolt things down tight, this small 
mismatch pushes the MC piston forward, and LOCKS the brakes when you use them! 
Second thing that can happen is, many vendors put a plastic bushing in the 
adapter to guide the connecting pushrod. When it gets too warm in the front trunk, 
the hole in the plastic bushing closes up, squeezing the pushrod. Result- the 
brakes lock again when you use them.

Both problems can be fixed; in the first one, you either shorten the 
connecting pushrod (some of which are solid thus not easily adjustable), or add 
shim-washers between the M.C mounting ears and adapter so there is no outward 
pressure on the M.C. assembly. In the second, you ream out the hole in the plastic 
bushing a little so it cannot squeeze down on the connecting rod. I got the 
impression you didn't want lots of fiddling to fix your brakes, but If you're a 
poor but competent Pantera-fixer, go for it. And carry some tools and files a
long on your next few drives. I've done both fixes in the middle of nowhere for 
other Pantera owners. Good luck- J DeRyke


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