
02-01-07 
Brakes
02-01-07
CENTRALIZING THE
PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL
VALVE
After a failure of the primary (front
brake) or secondary (rear brake) sys-
tem has been repaired and bled, the
dual-brake warning light will usually
continue to be illuminated due to the
pressure differential valve remaining in
the off-center position.
To centralize the pressure differen-
tial valve and turn off the warning 
light after a repair operation, a pres-
sure differential or unbalance condi-
tion must be created in the opposite
brake system from the one that was
repaired or bled last.
1.
 Turn the ignition switch to the
ACC or ON position. Loosen the dif-
ferential valve assembly brake tube
nut at the outlet port on the opposite
side of the brake system that was
wheel balanced, repaired and/or bled
last. Depress the brake pedal slowly to
build line pressure until the pressure 
differential valve is moved to a cen-
tralized position and the brake warn-
ing light goes out; then, immediately
tighten the outlet port tube nut.
2.
 Check the fluid level in the mas-
ter cylinder reservoirs and fill them to
within 1/4 inch of the top with the
specified brake fluid, if necessary.
3.
 Turn the ignition switch to the
OFF position.
4.
 Before driving the vehicle, check
the operation of the brakes and be
sure that a firm pedal is obtained.
CLEANING AND INSPECTION
DISC BRAKES
1.
 Remove the wheel and tire and
the shoe and lining assemblies as out-
lined in Part 2-2, Section 2.
2.
 On all models except Lincoln
Continental, make thickness measure-
ments with a micrometer across the
thinnest section of the shoe and lining.
If the assembly has worn to a thick-
ness of 0.230-inch (shoe and lining to-
gether) or 0.030-inch (lining material
only) at any one of three measuring
locations or if there is more than
0.125 taper from end to end or if lin-
ing shows evidence of brake fluid con-
tamination, replace all (4) shoe and
lining assemblies on both front wheels.
On Lincoln Continental brakes
make three thickness measurements
with a micrometer across the middle
section of the shoe and lining. Take
one reading at each side and one in
the center. If the assembly has worn
to a thickness of 0.231 inch (shoe and
lining together) or 0.066 inch (lining
material only) at any one of the three
measuring locations, replace all (4)
shoe and lining assemblies on both
front wheels.
3.
 Check the caliper to spindle at-
taching bolts torque. Torque them to
specification, if required.
4.
 To check rotor runout, first
eliminate the wheel bearing end play
by tightening the adjusting nut. After
tightening the nut, check to see that
the rotor can still be rotated.
5.
 Clamp a dial indicator to the
caliper housing so that the stylus con-
tact the rotor at a point approximate-
ly 1 inch from the outer edge. Rotate
the rotor and take an indicator read-
ing. If the reading exceeds 0.003 inch
total lateral runout on the indicator,
replace or resurface the disc brake
rotor. The following requirement must
be met when resurfacing disc brake
rotors: 
Rotunda Disc Brake Attachment
FRE-2249-2 is the only approved tool
to be used to refinish the disc brake
rotors.
 The step-by-step resurfacing
procedure provided with the tool must
be adhered to.
The finished braking surface of the
rotor must be flat and parallel within
0.0007 inch; lateral runout must not
exceed 0.003 inch total indicator
reading, braking surface are to be 80/15
micro inches.
On all models except Lincoln Con-
tinental the minimum limiting dimen-
sion from the inboard bearing cup to
the inboard rotor face and the mini-
mum rotor thickness dimension, must
be observed when removing material
from the rotor braking surfaces. A
ball and gage bar (Rotunda Kit FRE
70160) is to be used when checking
minimum dimensions (Fig. 11).
FALCON-FAIRLANE
MUSTANG-COUGAR
MONTEGO
.046 MAX-**
.119
 MAX.
FORD-MERCURY
METEOR - THUNDERBIRD 
875
 MIN
H1633-A
1.12
 MIN.-^
??
 — Disc Brake Rotor
Service Limits—All Models Except
Lincoln Continental
On Lincoln Continental models the
minimum limiting dimension (Fig. 12)
from the inboard bearing cup to the 
inboard rotor face (dimension B)
and the outboard rotor surface and
the inboard bearing cup (dimension
A),
 must be observed when remov-
ing material from the rotor braking
surfaces.
When the runout check is finished
be sure to adjust the bearings as out-
lined in Group 3, in order to prevent
bearing failure.
6. Check the rotor for scoring. Mi-
nor scores can be removed with a
fine emery cloth. If the rotor is ex-
cessively scored, refinish it as out-
lined in step 5 or replace the rotor,
if required.
7.
 Visually check the caliper. If the
caliper housing is leaking it should be
replaced. If a seal is leaking the cali-
per must be disassembled and new
.seals installed. If a piston is seazed
in the bore a new caliper housing is
required.
On Lincoln Continental models the
two halves of the caliper assembly
should never be separated. Damage or
failure of one requires replacement of
both as a unit.
Check the brake hoses for signs of
cracking, leaks or abrasion. Replace
them if necessary.
DISC BRAKE SERVICE
PRECAUTIONS
1.
 Grease or any other foreign ma-
terial must be kept off the caliper as-
sembly, surfaces of the rotor and ex-
ternal surfaces of the hub during serv-
ice operations. Handling of the rotor
and caliper assemblies should be done
in a way to avoid deformation of the
brake rotor and nicking or scratching
of brake linings.
2.
 If a caliper piston is removed for
any reason, the piston seal must be re-
placed.
3.
 During removal and installation
of a wheel assembly, exercise care not
to interfere with and damage the cali-procarmanuals.com 

03-01-09 
Suspension — Steering, Wheels And Tires — General Service
03-01-09
the reading exceeds specifications
(Part 3-13), replace the upper ball
joint.
LOWER BALL JOINT
INSPECTION
Ford,
 Mercury, Meteor,
Thunderbird, Lincoln Continental
and Continental Mark III
1.
 Raise the vehicle and place
jacks under the lower arms as shown
in Fig. 12. This will unload the lower
ball joints.
2.
 Adjust the wheel bearings as des-
cribed in Part 3-12.
3.
 Attach a dial indicator to the
lower arm and position the indicator
so that the plunger rests against the
inner side of the wheel rim adjacent to
the lower ball joint.
4.
 Grasp the tire at the top and
bottom and slowly move the tire in
and out (Fig. 19). Note the reading
(radial play) on the dial indicator. If
the reading exceeds specifications
(Part 3-13), replace the lower ball
joint.
Cougar, Fairlane, Falcon,
Montego, Mustang
1.
 Raise the vehicle on a frame
contact hoist or by floor jacks placed
beneath the underbody until the wheel
falls to the full down position.
2.
 Ask an assistant to grasp the
lower edge of the tire and move the
wheel in and out.
3.
 As the wheel is being moved in
and out, observe the lower end of the
spindle and the lower arm.
4.
 Any movement between the
lower end of the spindle and the lower
arm indicates ball joint wear and loss
of preload. If any such movement is
observed, replace the lower arm.
During the foregoing check, the
upper ball joint will be unloaded and
may move. Disregard all such move-
ment of the upper ball joint. Also, do
not mistake loose wheel bearings for a
worn ball joint.
POWER STEERING GEAR
CLEANING
Disassembly and assembly of the
steering gear and. the sub-assemblies
must be made on a clean workbench.
As in repairing any hydraulically op-
erated unit, cleanliness is of utmost 
importance. The bench, tools, and
parts must be kept clean at all times.
Thoroughly clean the exterior of the
unit with a suitable solvent and, when
necessary drain as much of the hy-
draulic fluid as possible. Handle all
parts very carefully to avoid nicks,
burrs,
 scratches and dirt, which could
make the parts unfit for use.
Do not clean, wash or soak seals in
cleaning solvent.
INSPECTION
1.
 Check the sector shaft contact
surface in the cover for wear. If worn,
replace the cover.
2.
 Inspect the input shaft bearing
for cracked races and the balls for
looseness, wear, pitting, end play or
other damage. Check the fit of the
bearing on the input shaft. Replace
the bearing, if required.
3.
 Inspect the valve housing for
wear, scoring or burrs.
4.
 Inspect the tube seats in the
pressure and return ports in the valve
body for nicks, etc. If necessary, re-
move and replace.
5.
 Check the sector shaft contact
surface in the housing for wear. If
worn, replace the bushing or the hous-
ing.
6. Check all fluid passages for ob-
struction or leakage.
7.
 Inspect the steering gear housing
for cracks, stripped threads, and mat-
ing surfaces for burrs. Inspect the pis-
ton bore of the housing for scoring or
wear. If necessary, replace the hous-
ing.
8. Check the input shaft bearing
after installation to be sure that it ro-
tates freely.
9. If the valve spool is not free in
the valve housing, check for burrs at
the outward edges of the working
lands in the housing and remove with
a hard stone. Check the valve spool
for burrs and if burrs are found, stone
the valve in a radial direction only.
Check for freedom of the valve again.
10.
 Check the piston rack teeth and
sector shaft teeth for nicks and burrs.
FLUSHING THE POWER
STEERING SYSTEM—ALL EXCEPT
LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND
CONTINENTAL MARK III
Should it be necessary to replace an
inoperative power steering pump, the
need for flushing the steering system
is required when installing the new
pump. 
1.
 Remove the power steering pump
and remove the pulley as outlined in
Part 3-10.
2.
 Install the pulley on a new
pump. Install the pump and connect
only the pressure hose to the pump
(Part 3-10).
3.
 Place the fluid return line in a
suitable container and plug the reser-
voir return pipe.
4.
 Fill the reservoir with lubricant
(C1AZ-19582-A).
5.
 Disconnect the coil wire to pre-
vent the engine from starting and raise
the front wheels off the ground.
6. While approximately two quarts
of steering gear fluid are being poured
into the reservoir, turn the engine over
using the ignition key, at the same
time cycle the steering wheel from
stop to stop.
7.
 As soon as all of the lubricant
has been poured in, turn off the igni-
tion key, and attach the coil wire.
8. Remove the plug from the reser-
voir return pipe, and attach the return
hose to the reservoir.
9. Check the reservoir fluid level; if
low, add fluid to the proper level. Do
not overfill.
10.
 Lower the vehicle.
11.
 Start the engine and cycle the
steering from stop to stop to expel
any trapped air from the system.
POWER STEERING PUMP—ALL
EXCEPT LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL AND
CONTINENTAL MARK III
CLEANING
Wash all parts (except seals) in a
Naptha or Chlorinated-type solvent
and dry with compressed air.
Punch or Rod
RELIEF VALVE PLUNGER
G1607-A
FIG.
 20—Cleaning Pump Relief Valveprocarmanuals.com