The Ford Barn

A29FORD · 09-07-2012, 09:57 PM

After installing new rear brake camshaft and new camshaft bushings the grease fitting on the rear brake track assembly wont take grease. Is this normally the case when changing out these parts? I know the fitting is open as I have taken it out and checked it.

Thanks kindly

Kurt in NJ · 09-07-2012, 10:40 PM

When the grease fitting was out did you look in the hole to see if you can see the shaft--or do you just see the brass bushing (no hole drilled in the bushing--or perhaps an old bushing is still in the middle

A29FORD · 09-07-2012, 11:41 PM

Yes, I can see the shaft through the hole in the bushing after taking the grease fitting out.
Let me add more info about this problem. I know these parts were replaced several decades ago but only have a few hundred miles on them. I dont know if the bushings come with a groove for grease to move through or if thats cut when the bushings are reamed or even if the bushings were reamed. If this job were done correctly would grease pass freely between the bushing and the shaft and exit on either end of the brake camshaft?

Kurt in NJ · 09-08-2012, 12:10 AM

What are you using for a gease gun ---when you try to grease do you feel resistance---or is it hard to get a "seal" at the fitting

Much depends on the bushings used, the ones I used 40 years ago---and what my brother used recently have little dimples that look to be filled with a graphite looking material, if the fit is tight and you have thick grease it may not move through easy, if you can get a couple of pumps in without loosing it all(leak between the fitting and gun) I wouldn't worry --you could also try greasing it a little every time you drive---the movement of driving will help move the grease through---you don't want much grease to come out and get on the brake linings.

I use a larger era altemite grease gun, the plunger is in the tip, it works easy 1 handed --looks like this one on E bay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Alem...item1e71dd9731 I bought 2 last year at hershey for 1$ and 3$---but saw some at 20+ ----works much better than a modern gun with adapter, I have greased most of the ft end while waiting at a stop light

A29FORD · 09-08-2012, 11:41 AM

I’m using a modern grease gun with mystik JT6 grease. I have to press the tip tight-tight against the fitting or I'll lose everything pumped. I've managed, after pushing hard on the pump handle, to get a blob of very black grease about the size of a BB to exit at the brake lever end of the camshaft. That's probably the graphite material you referenced. Having limited experience with rebuilding a model A, and not running across this before, I wondered if this was something that should be corrected as long as I have the backing plates off the car. I’m thinking now that the snug fit of the new bushings and new camshaft is resisting the grease being pushed into the fitting and, with putting some wear on the bushings, this resistance will lessen. Does this make sense to you? I don’t want to pull the brake levers off and pursue a problem that will fix itself.
Thanks for the heads up on the altemite grease gun. Things that make it easier to do things are worth having. Thanks for sharing what you know.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 09-08-2012, 01:32 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

A friend's king pin bushing hole was misaligned, drilled through bushing, with a modern fitting, it was difficult, but finally took grease!
Once while trying to get a frozen, RARE brake cylinder apart, I put a 2,000 Lb. pressure guage on my grease gun and it pegged the guage EASILY! Re-threaded a grease fitting to fit the cylinder & pumped the piston out so easy! Bill W.

09-07-2012, 09:57 PM	#1
A29FORD Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 7	Rear Brake Camshaft After installing new rear brake camshaft and new camshaft bushings the grease fitting on the rear brake track assembly wont take grease. Is this normally the case when changing out these parts? I know the fitting is open as I have taken it out and checked it. Thanks kindly

09-07-2012, 10:40 PM	#2
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,179	Re: Rear Brake Camshaft When the grease fitting was out did you look in the hole to see if you can see the shaft--or do you just see the brass bushing (no hole drilled in the bushing--or perhaps an old bushing is still in the middle

09-07-2012, 11:41 PM	#3
A29FORD Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 7	Re: Rear Brake Camshaft Yes, I can see the shaft through the hole in the bushing after taking the grease fitting out. Let me add more info about this problem. I know these parts were replaced several decades ago but only have a few hundred miles on them. I dont know if the bushings come with a groove for grease to move through or if thats cut when the bushings are reamed or even if the bushings were reamed. If this job were done correctly would grease pass freely between the bushing and the shaft and exit on either end of the brake camshaft?

09-08-2012, 12:10 AM	#4
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,179	Re: Rear Brake Camshaft What are you using for a gease gun ---when you try to grease do you feel resistance---or is it hard to get a "seal" at the fitting Much depends on the bushings used, the ones I used 40 years ago---and what my brother used recently have little dimples that look to be filled with a graphite looking material, if the fit is tight and you have thick grease it may not move through easy, if you can get a couple of pumps in without loosing it all(leak between the fitting and gun) I wouldn't worry --you could also try greasing it a little every time you drive---the movement of driving will help move the grease through---you don't want much grease to come out and get on the brake linings. I use a larger era altemite grease gun, the plunger is in the tip, it works easy 1 handed --looks like this one on E bay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Alem...item1e71dd9731 I bought 2 last year at hershey for 1$ and 3$---but saw some at 20+ ----works much better than a modern gun with adapter, I have greased most of the ft end while waiting at a stop light

09-08-2012, 11:41 AM	#5
A29FORD Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 7	Re: Rear Brake Camshaft I’m using a modern grease gun with mystik JT6 grease. I have to press the tip tight-tight against the fitting or I'll lose everything pumped. I've managed, after pushing hard on the pump handle, to get a blob of very black grease about the size of a BB to exit at the brake lever end of the camshaft. That's probably the graphite material you referenced. Having limited experience with rebuilding a model A, and not running across this before, I wondered if this was something that should be corrected as long as I have the backing plates off the car. I’m thinking now that the snug fit of the new bushings and new camshaft is resisting the grease being pushed into the fitting and, with putting some wear on the bushings, this resistance will lessen. Does this make sense to you? I don’t want to pull the brake levers off and pursue a problem that will fix itself. Thanks for the heads up on the altemite grease gun. Things that make it easier to do things are worth having. Thanks for sharing what you know.

09-08-2012, 01:32 PM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Rear Brake Camshaft Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) A friend's king pin bushing hole was misaligned, drilled through bushing, with a modern fitting, it was difficult, but finally took grease! Once while trying to get a frozen, RARE brake cylinder apart, I put a 2,000 Lb. pressure guage on my grease gun and it pegged the guage EASILY! Re-threaded a grease fitting to fit the cylinder & pumped the piston out so easy! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"