A-Body to 69 B-Body Brake Swap...What did I screw up and/or miss??

[Mfr426]

Hey all, my car is a 69 and has factory power disc brakes. I could not stomach the rotor cost so I did the A-body swap and put on the spindles, calipers, etc from a 73 Dart. I got all new lines and a new master cylinder (used the 69 year as reference for the parts store).

Anyway, I took the car to my mechanic to bleed the brakes and he said that the lines on the proportioning valves are all wrong? This is the stock proportioning valve that worked on the car before I did the swap. He says it should have 2 lines in from the MC and then 3 out (Left Front, Right Front and Rear Brakes). He said that is not the case and that it is not correct?

I got fine lines for my year car and used a new MC for a 69 w/power disc brakes.

Do I need the proportion valve for a 73 Dart instead? Do I need a 73 Dart MC?

HELP!!! This car is sooooooooooooooo close to being road worthy!!!!!!

Thanks for any comments.

Mike R

[is_it_EVER_done?]

He says it should have 2 lines in from the MC and then 3 out (Left Front, Right Front and Rear Brakes). He said that is not the case and that it is not correct?

What exactly does he say is wrong? Can you post a picture of your setup, if not, can you describe where the lines are attached to the valve. It's pretty hard to hook one up incorrectly, so I'm guessing that you probably have them right. Does it have any brakes when you pump the pedal?

[Chryco Psycho]

some had a proprtioning valve with 2 lines in & 2 out & had a separate Tee to split the front lines , is this how yours is set up now ?

[Mfr426]

Hey guys, thanks for the posts and help. It's been at least 2 years since I put the new lines on and restored/cleaned the valve just under the MC but here is what he is telling me. Unfortunatley the car is at the shop about 30 minutes away and they are not open post 5PM for me to go look at it. He's saying the the block does not split the lines like LF, RF and then rear (in one line). He was saying that it went something like LF and LR and then RR but no right front on the way the lines were seperated.

The car has the block just on top of the Left frame rail underneath the MC and then another block for the rears further back on the L frame rail. I pulled my service manual last night and it has a cross section of the valve (which it calls a safey valve) and it shows RF, LF, Rear then the in's from the MC. That would be 5 input totall

I'm confused as hell and am going to try to stop by "on a sales call" this AM with my service manual and get a better look at the issue. He does not want to test drive it until he's figured it out...

Thanks all for the comments.

[Shakey]

I have been told that on a '69 Charger there is a metering valve and a proportioning valve.  The metering valve is mounted to the frame, just under the master cylinder (see attached photo) and the proportioning valve is located about 10 - 12" behind it on the frame rail.  The metering valve distributes the brake fluid and pressure to all four wheels while the proportioning valve equalizes the pressure between the front & rear wheels.

My car has the metering valve.  In the photo you can see two lines from the master cylinder going into the metering valve, one line going out to the LF wheel, one line going out to the RF wheel and one line going to the rear wheels.  I do not know if this is the way it is supposed to be but it seems to make sense.  I am missing the proportioning valve, however I picked one up on one of my "business" trips last year.  I have yet to install it.  Oh yeah, there is also a provision for an electrical plug on the metering valve that connects to the red brake light on the dash, should there be a problem with your brakes.

Since I am unsure of what brake system is on my car, despite the fact that it is a PDB car, I intend on buying spindles, calipers and the proper brake booster / master cylinder for my car and start from scratch.

Anyone is welcome to correct me if I am wrong with my information above, as I will be tackling this project myself within the next few months.

[John_Kunkel]

The part that the master cylinder lines flow into isn't a metering valve, it's a simple drum brake splitter/safety tee. On a '69 B body, a  separate proportioning valve is mounted low on the frame in the rear brake line.

The '70 and later cars with floating calipers have a metering valve for the front brakes, some are separate and some are incorporated into a combination valve.

[Shakey]

The part that the master cylinder lines flow into isn't a metering valve, it's a simple drum brake splitter/safety tee. On a '69 B body, a   separate proportioning valve is mounted low on the frame in the rear brake line.

The '70 and later cars with floating calipers have a metering valve for the front brakes, some are separate and some are incorporated into a combination valve.

So, on a '69 B body with factory power disc brakes, where do the lines from the master cylinder run to?

There are two lines running from the master cylinder, on a 440 Charger, like mine, the brake lines exit the master cylinder on the engine side, (contrary to my photo as it has been determined that the incorrect master cyliner is on my car) - where does the forward line (closest to radiator support) connect to and where does the rear line (closest to firewall) connect to?

What is the difference between a metering valve and a splitter / safety tee?  Any photos would help!

[Mfr426]

Thank you both for the comments and the photos. I concur that it is a safety valve but honestly dont know the difference. I have the shot from the service manual that you've posted Shakey and can not figure out what that second valve behind the safety valve is?  My car does not look that that but my valve matches your valve exactly!

I went to get a better look at my car today and honestly the lines all looked like they were run to the correct spots. I made a quick sketch to compare to the service manual. I'll be doing that next.

Here is a question for you all, did you have to use the valve from the donor car in your b body or did you use your stock b-body valve?? If you need to use the a  body donor car valve then there is my answer...I didnt.

Thanks for any further comments.

Mike R

[Shakey]

Hey John, where did you go?

[Mfr426]

Hey Shakey! They finished my car and fixed the brakes. They put on adapters just like I see on your valve? That allowed him to move the lines around to the correct ports. I didnt see that the first time I looked at the pics! I road tested the car and they are fine!!!!

Mystery solved (well, sort of)

Mike R

[Shakey]

Haven't seen John Kinkel around to help out with this, anyone else like to take a stab at it?  Anyone?  Are there any brake experts that can help me/us understand where the brake lines that exit the master cylinder go to?  I am also interested in learning why?

[Chryco Psycho]

the front line on the master  is for the rear brakes , it will usually go the the bottm of the proportioning valve where there are only 2 ports
the rear line on the master goes to the front brakes , generally the top of the proportioning valve where there are 3 ports , 1 in & 2 out , 1 to each fron tbrake
the metering vcalve is in the rear brake line If it is seperate from the proprtioning valve