Miles Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 My push rod is not adjustable for some odd reason and it's about 4mm too short. I'm thinking about taking the spacer between the master cylinder and the booster and have it milled to make up the difference. I would replace the booster but it's brand new and I had it powder coated already. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. It is going to turn into a kluge. Just go back to a 280Z booster and sell the 280ZX booster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 It may be more work, but try installing it and just giving it a try. My pushrod needs to be adjusted, but I don't have time, so I just have a low pedal (but I still have enough). Nice thing is that it puts the pedal at a great height for toe-heeling. One thing I would suggest is to modify your lines to allow you to run flexible lines at the master cylinder. That will let you remove the master to adjust the rod later without having to bleed brakes after every adjustment. Maybe I'll get mine adjusted this winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 You can move the MC while it is attached to the hardlines. There is enough flex in the hard lines to pull the MC off of the booster and move it toward the fender so you can acess the push rod for adjustment and/or check if the reaction disk is in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alainburon Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 It is going to turn into a kluge. Just go back to a 280Z booster and sell the 280ZX booster. You maybe right but I think I'm going to need the larger booster since I'm running the larger master cylinder and Wilwoods front and rear. It should not be that bad, I have determined that I will have to shave 2.8 mm from the spacer to give me a 3 mm clerance. That should not be a big deal, a local machine shop should be able to handle that with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alainburon Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 It may be more work, but try installing it and just giving it a try. My pushrod needs to be adjusted, but I don't have time, so I just have a low pedal (but I still have enough). Nice thing is that it puts the pedal at a great height for toe-heeling. One thing I would suggest is to modify your lines to allow you to run flexible lines at the master cylinder. That will let you remove the master to adjust the rod later without having to bleed brakes after every adjustment. Maybe I'll get mine adjusted this winter. I just don't want to take a chance to get on the throtle and not be able to stop. This car will have over 800 hp by the time I'm done with it and brakes will be needed to slow it down if I ever get traction... I am using the flexible braided lines like you mentioned from the master cylinder to the distribution block on the firewall. I will post some pictures on my thread soon of the progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuoWing Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) Well I'm getting ready to do this and for the life of me I can't really figure out doing it the measurement way so I found a push rod depth gauge here: http://www.classicperform.com/Store2/Tools.htm Costs about $30 with shipping. I figure I'll grab this since I don't have any very accurate measuring devices either and they say this is the best tool for adjustment. Edited April 19, 2013 by DuoWing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Austin Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 I am sure it is a fine and dandy tool. I used a business card with a small Phillips screwdriver poked through it and a carpenters tape measure. I rested the screwdriver in the old MC, slide the card up to the end of the MC, grasped the shaft(no pun intended) so the card was not deformed and could not move and recorded the length from the card to the tip of the screwdriver, repeat on the new MC and being a cheap bastard, re-use the business card to be a straight edge to measure the pushrod protrusion from the booster. My 76 needed a 1/8" adjustment (3mm), which I am sure I saw earlier in this thread, so I was comfortable with accuracy tools available to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuoWing Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 For anyone wondering my Tokico replacement Brake Master that was in my car was not compatible with the Wilwood so I had to go the route of forming new brake lines. Anyway my measurements for anyone interested fell inline with what Dan_Austin said. I found from the very top of the cylinder bore to the bottom using the push rod that came with the new master for measurement at 28mm. The measurement A I found to be about 15mm. My pushrod stuck out 10mm. So I ended up needing to adjust it out about 3mm. Also for anyone needing help with adjustment I had a person sit in the driver's seat and hold the brake pedal down so the pushrod stuck out nice and far and I could put some vice grips on the lock nut and use a 7mm box wrench to adjust it. I'll probably double check once I get the depth tool, but I feel like this should be good. Now to bleed everything and hope for no leaks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ghtymaxXx Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Figured I'd chime in, my 77 mastercylinder wouldn't adjust, but it just seemed the rounded end was seized onto the thread shaft. I struggled for a while with vice grips on the threads but never got it to budge. My measurements showed it was just barely within spec, and I haven't had any issues with it on street. I should poing out I'm also using the 1" mc with all stock brakes, and I've found the feel to be just fine, though I the car came with a rotten MC, so I have no idea what the brakes were supposed to feel like. The heavy pedal just matches the heaving steering to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 JUST finished bleeding brakes from a leaking wheel cylinder, was lowering the hood from doing the job and what did I see? Some paint peeling on the booster right below my master cylinder. Looks like my 3rd rebuilt master cylinder is leaking! Argh! I just can't get a break. I was just thinking about adjusting the push rod when I got home from the weekend's racing. Hope the darn thing doesn't fail suddenly (looks like it has been leaking for a while) cause I'm going racing anyway, but I'm gonna order the Wilwood 1" kit when I get home. Did I mention that I suck at brake work? Anyway, how is the Wilwood master holding up for all of you? I don't need a bigger MC-I just need one that will last for a few years instead of needing replacement almost annually. I friggin' hate cleaning all that goo out of the booster..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuoWing Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 (edited) I don't know how efficient it would be, but I had a thought for lines from the new master adapting to the rest of the system. I was thinking you could simply buy say the 14" long Stainless Braided lines that have two -3AN Female fittings and then just use a -3AN male to 10mm male on one end and a -3AN male to a 3/8x24 male on the other. This way you wouldn't have to deal with bending or flaring lines and you'd have flexible lines that easily allow you to move the master cylinder around for adjustment or having to pull the booster. Alright I was searching Ebay and it turns out I just wasn't hitting the right keys, but I found these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brake-Line-Thread-Adapter-Male-3-8-x-24NF-Female-M10-x-1-Inverted-Seat-/390439357312?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae7ffcb80 So maybe we finally have an option for making the Wilwood swap even easier. Edited May 5, 2013 by DuoWing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namor Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I got the Wilwood master and a new booster. However, the pushrod is too long and I can't adjust it. I have read that you can use shims to fix it, but it is right at 4mm too long and I don't think I want to shim it that much. Before I go hacking at my new booster to shorten the pushrod, anyone have any recommendations? Oh and here is a picture in case I am being stupid and it is adjustable but I just fail to see how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtreme_240z Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Um since i don't have a booster anymore not sure how helpful i can be. But would shortening the shaft that gose's to your pedal possibly pull your push rod back in? Also realy if its only a 4 mm spacer in inch its around 5/32 thick. So if you would take a nice piece of aluminium and shine it up it could look of, id say better then going and hacking up the rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) Do you have the spacer block in place between the booster and MC? If not the push rod will be too long. Under the dash verify that the adjustment between the booster and the pedal arm is not adjusted such that it is pushing the MC push rod forward. You need some free play in the brake pedal per the FSM etc. Assuming that you have a 240Z or 280Z booster, the push rod should be close to 14mm to 15mm +/- a few mm (as measured from the spacer block) for the Wilwood 1 inch MC. Test fit the MC while adjusting the push rod. If the MC pushes back when sliding it home on the booster it is too long. If it is too long the brakes will lock up after 2 or 3 stops. When you test drive the car take a wrench with you to release pressure in the MC by opening the MC bleed screws. Note that the push rod can be adjusted with the hard lines to the MC connected. Do not drop the reaction disk inside the booster. Suggest that you set the booster in a vise so the push rod is pointing up, pull the push rod out, take out the reaction disk (rubber puck) and glue it to the base of the push rod with JB weld. Otherwise there is a good chance that you will loose the reaction disk while fooling around with the push rod adjustment. Search on reaction disk for more info. Edited September 11, 2013 by Miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namor Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 DOH! Thanks. #1 on your list is the answer. Both MC and booster have been off the car for a significant period of time and in that time apparently I forgot about that. It was sitting in bag in a bin about 15ft away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namor Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I found similar adapters from Brakequip. BQ50 were what I got. They have a lot of other adapters as well too. I don't know how efficient it would be, but I had a thought for lines from the new master adapting to the rest of the system. I was thinking you could simply buy say the 14" long Stainless Braided lines that have two -3AN Female fittings and then just use a -3AN male to 10mm male on one end and a -3AN male to a 3/8x24 male on the other. This way you wouldn't have to deal with bending or flaring lines and you'd have flexible lines that easily allow you to move the master cylinder around for adjustment or having to pull the booster. Alright I was searching Ebay and it turns out I just wasn't hitting the right keys, but I found these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brake-Line-Thread-Adapter-Male-3-8-x-24NF-Female-M10-x-1-Inverted-Seat-/390439357312?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae7ffcb80 So maybe we finally have an option for making the Wilwood swap even easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuoWing Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Well at least a couple of adapters have emerged. This should help people especially if you've never made brake lines before. Also another thought I had is that since 3/8-24 is smaller than 10x1 you may even be able to remove the aluminum line adapters from the MC and actually just tap them out to 10x1. Then everything should fit nearly perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryand2 Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Here is a pic of what I have. Now off to pick a part for a 280 booster Is that the kit from datsun parts llc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue phantom Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Reading threw here everyone has fantastic expieriance and yet one question keeps being asked. "Power booster" has anyone tried a dual chamber booster? GM had one they used on I think crown Vic's with limited space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoorenc Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Finished mine up today and what a major difference is stopping power! I found a place in town that just cut the ends off the top of the lines and swapped out the 10mm for the 3/8 and re flared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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