New Bonaldi Brake Valve Kit for 1971 - 1974 Pantera

Submitted by SAH on

A customer recently asked me if I had a rebuild kit for the Bonaldi proportioning valve used on his de Tomaso Pantera. I didn't then, but I do now! As usual, I've also written articles that describe how to disassemble and rebuild the valve. Here are the links:

Brake valve disassembly:

https://www.musclecarresearch.com/pantera-prop-valve-autopsy

Brake valve rebuild:

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Using a Grease Gun and Hydraulic Pressure to Remove Brake Valve Components

Submitted by SAH on

When disassembling a brake valve it's not uncommon to find an internal component that can't be easily pulled or pushed out using mechanical pressure. Heat from a propane torch coupled with compressed air sometimes works, but when can you do when compressed air doesn't get the job done, either? I've found that using hydraulic pressure will typically do the trick, and it's relatively easy to apply hydraulic pressure using a common grease gun. The challenge is connecting your grease gun to the ports on your brake valve. How can it be done?

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Rubber Compounds and Fluid Compatibility

Submitted by SAH on

When faced with a leaking brake valve, many adventurous home mechanics follow the same path I did and wonder if it's possible to rebuild the valve. Many valves can indeed be rebuilt, but it's important to understand that it can't usually be done using seals found at your local parts store. That's because the Nitrile/Buna-N or Viton (a fluoroelastomer) rubber compounds used in o-rings and other seals found in "over the counter" kits aren't compatible with automotive brake fluid - they're designed to be compatible with petroleum-based fluids like engine oil and gasoline!

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