Re: New request for non-operating Bendix Treadle Vac

Posted by Dave Brownell On 2016/10/7 18:58:44

For those of you who may have missed the news this week, NHTSA has begun an investigation after several dozen Ford F-150 (the aluminum-bodied 2015-16 with the turbo V6) truck owners reported sudden and complete brake failure. Almost 400,000 are said to be affected, should there be a recall. Early findings report no reservoir brake fluid in most of the affected trucks that failed.

To me, this sounds like a failed seal that allows the engine to drink the brake fluid, perhaps suddenly without much warning. Now don't you feel somewhat better about those well-maintained BTVs that are six decades old? In both vehicles, careful monitoring of systems is important. The visible reservoir on a new Ford is so much easier to watch than on the buried master cylinders of my two 1956s. I hope Ford and their customers take this seriously. Those talented Bendix engineers that Fred has mentioned in the past, don't look so bad by comparison.