[AT] OT--Farm Truck brakes

[Steve W.]

John Hall wrote:
>  I have a problem with the brakes on my F-600 Ford grain truck. I have had 
> the truck for a about a year but have never put it on the road. We have been 
> making some odd and end repairs to get it roadworthy. The guy I bought it 
> from had tags on it through 2007. He put a master cylinder on it some time 
> back. I noticed an empty can of brake fluid in the floorboard when I bought 
> it. While using it around the farm last summer we needed to add some brake 
> fluid. Then this winter while sitting under the shed untouched for a few 
> months, all the fluid disappeared from the master cylinder. We refilled it 
> but had no brakes. Parked it to work on another day. When we went to get it 
> to take to the shop, we had full pedal/brakes and the master cylinder was 
> still full. I have looked on every wheel and cannot find a leak (didn't pull 
> the wheels--with this much fluid missing it should be easy to find). We also 
> pulled the vacuum line of the booster to see if it was leaking into it and 
> burring the fluid--dry. Don't see anything leaking from the master cylinder 
> either.  What is the chance that when the guy changed the master cylinder he 
> got a huge air block in the line and was able to drive the truck for a 
> couple years and not know it--and then it finally worked its way out sitting 
> under the shed? If that is not a possibility, then where could all this 
> fluid be going?
> 
> John Hall 
> 
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John,
 Well it is possible that is what happened BUT I doubt it. What you
probably have is a leaking wheel cylinder that leaked, then rusted up
around it and the fluid drew in enough water to cause the cylinder to
lock up from the rust.
I would pull the wheels, clean the brakes and check them. Brakes are one
item I do NOT play with. They either work or the vehicle gets parked
until I get them repaired.

-- 
Steve Williams