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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 528
 
Location: Medford Oregon | I drove the Blue Heron yesterday. The car ran (and stopped) great until ...
As I approached the corner of Bellview and Federal someone pulled out of the parking lot and tried to drive around cars at the light by going against traffic. With this van pointed directly at my I hit the horn and brakes. As soon as the rear tires locked something in the front left brake gave out and I had no brakes. Luckily no one was to my right and I could turn into the driveway that the van had pulled out of.
It is hard to describe how close he was when he pulled out. I already was looking for a way out before the brakes failed. My path would have been one lane to the right and hard brakes. The brake failure took that path away.
Both the Blue Heron and I are ok, though I've got a full brake rebuild coming up. I hope the van driver had to change his pants when he got home! |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
   
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | i think a lot of people here would be curious as to why your brakes failed ----------------------------------------------------later |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 528
Location: Medford Oregon | I'll post it when I have a moment to take a look. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | I would say (guess) that the rubber hose to the front left brake burst
Old hose and sudden stomping on the brake finished off what was likely to happen anyway
If it was, best to replace all of those hoses.
And (just as a thought), if the brake hoses are old, I am guessing the fuel juntion hoses could also be old and it would be good to replace those as well
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Expert
Posts: 1288
| Stanford --
Did I tell you I'm getting a 426 Hemi for my Big-Tailed Beast?
Joe
Edited by Sonoramic60 2014-09-04 9:14 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1288
| PS, I'm putting it in the trunk with a chain attached so I can kick it out like an anchor. The brakes on the Beast are just 9"X2" drums and I don't think yours are any better. Thanks to Whomever that you weren't injured.
Joe |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 528
Location: Medford Oregon | Fuel lines are replaced already. I agree that the likely cause is brake hose failure. Regardless of cause I'm going through the compete system; new wheel cylinders, new lines, and most likely new shoes. The return springs are almost new.
I'm still researching master cylinders. It and the booster were replaced by the previous owner. I can get a complete booster with cylinder for $788. Rebuild kits and master cylinders that I have found all are for manual brakes only. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | Your not considering dual circuit brakes then?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 528
Location: Medford Oregon | I've thought about a dual circuit. 1955 used a Kelsey-Hayes power brake that I don't think was used in any other year. The only way to get a master cylinder is with the power brake unit, so I doubt that there's a dual system that would bolt up. Thus I'd either convert to non-power or replace both the booster and master.
I pulled the wheel off today. On one of the wheel cylinders the piston is at an angle and the seal on one side inverted. I keep going over in my head how this could happen. The theory I have is that someone hone it once too many times or over honed it. I slammed on the brake and the seal on the loose side gave out.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 449
Location: jersey | I'm waiting neil's reply, since he's insistent that dual circuit master cylinders are in no way needed.
Me? I like to stop.
Glad you and the car are safe. |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | Well, if he'd had a dual master cylinder his rear brakes, after the fronts failed, would have most likely locked up in the middle of him turning into the lot, he would have spun, and possible had an accident whereas with no brakes he didn't spin and didn't have an accident. |
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Expert
Posts: 1730
Location: Michigan | Stanford,
My 55 brakes have failed for the last time. I have had my master cylinder and booster rebuilt by Karps three times. This last one lasted a year.. and about 1500 miles, tops. Now the booster has failed. I hear that Booster Dewey is another trusted source for some board members. I would not use Karps again. I have $450 into rebuilding that original unit. I am now converting to AAJ and a dual master with 9 inch booster commonly available on the market. I have been lucky 3 times... I am not risking it any more. |
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | My '58 Windsor is being converted to dual circuit via '67 Dart m/c, manual brakes. No way would I drive a single pot m/c.
Edited by firedome 2014-09-09 10:15 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 726
Location: Some Island called Prince Edward | I had the single MC fail on the 58 Belevdere I owned. Luckily I wasn't going to fast. I swapped in a dual MC from a 69 Belvedere. |
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A little luck and quick thinking kept me safe
