How do I replace the Master Cylinder on an 87 Mark VII?

[wolfmansmith1959]

What is the proper procedure for changing a brake master cylinder on a 1987 Lincoln Mark VII LSC? I have never changed a master cylinder on a Lincoln. This is the first non-GMC vehicle I've owned in over 15 years.
I started losing braking power yesterday. I checked the master cylinder and the reservoir was almost empty. Filled it, and still have no braking power to speak of. I'm going to pick up a master cylinder from O'Reillys this afternoon if I don't get carried to Kansas by the tornados, LOL, so need some guidance on how to do this! Tools, procedures, etc.. Reservoir cap says before changing it, I need to pump the brake a minimum of 25 times..Is this with or without the engine running?
Thanks in advance for your help!

Will

 

[Lincolnlov]

Master Cylinder

Wolf,
Lincolns on Line has a sseries of tech articles that will show you. Good luck.

 

[Ricks90billblass]

Wait! Don't Do That Just Yet.

Engine off, key off. Follow closely to the directions, and take your time.
Did you find brake fluid leaking around the outside of the master cylinder? If not, you may have a caliper that is leaking fluid, and you do not need a master cylinder.

 

[wolfmansmith1959]

Engine off, key off. Follow closely to the directions, and take your time.
Did you find brake fluid leaking around the outside of the master cylinder? If not, you may have a caliper that is leaking fluid, and you do not need a master cylinder.

Yep, it apparently wasn't the master cylinder. Someone cut my left front brake line! One other problem I do need to fix. Seems to be a short somewhere near the fuse box that is causing my tail lights to malfunction. When my mechanic installed the new brake light switch, he bumped the fuse box panel, and the dash lights came on! The new switch didn't help the brake light short, so it's probably in that fuse box somewhere. But where do I look? What does this sound like to you? Anyone else have this problem with brake lights on a 1987 Mark VII LSC?