Just back from a week's vacation in sunny Arizona!
This has been done and explained many times here over the years. There is a lot of information about it in the archives. Several current active IMLer's will have all the details needed to make this modification. The original style wheel cylinders can remain, but I believe a proportioning valve that is mated with the master cylinder is a must.
Although this modification is an excellent safety enhancement, it is not necessary in order for the car to be considered safe. Proper maintenance of the original braking system is adequate protection against "catastrophic brake failure". Brake failure is not "catastrophic" (although very un-nerving) if driving defensively, along with being conscious of the idea that anything can happen anytime.
While an excellent idea, installing dual master cylinder, along with necessary proper maintenance will not make the Imperial safe. That is totally conditional upon what is going on in the head of the person behind the steering wheel. Driving is a full time job. Talking on cell phones and day dreaming (about the Imperial's next restoration project) are not conducive to safe driving. Being prepared, anticipating problems both with the car and other drivers, and considering what might be ahead are what makes the car safe while on the road.
Just a note of caution, a friend driving a 1981 Lincoln T&C with front disc brakes and a dual master cylinder, unexpectedly lost his brakes (according to him) without warning. It was later discovered that the front wheel portion of the m/c reservoir was bone dry. This went unnoticed because the car stopped well enough with the rear wheels that the driver was unaware of the lack of front braking. Lack of maintenance eventually led to the rear wheel brake failure as well. The car had been routinely serviced by a shop, but no one ever looked in the master cylinder.
No number of safety improvements can take the place of proper maintenance and safe driving.
Paul W.
Paul W.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Alexander <m.alexander@shaw.
ca>
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sun, 30
Apr 2006 09:13:13 -0700
Subject:
IML: Dual Master Cylinder Install - 63
Getting ready to dust of the 63 Crown for the summer, one of the projects which I am planning on tackling before hitting the road is replacing the standard single master cylinder with a dual master cylinder. The main purpose of doing this is to avoid catastrophic brake failure which happened once when a wheel cylinder failed, luckily it was while I was waiting a at drive-thru window and was able to stop using the parking brake without any damage.
So the plan is to install a dual reservoir master cylinder and run separate lines for front and rear brakes. I have some questions if anyone was done this before:
- Is there a recommended master cylinder that bolts into 63 and has the required cylinder reservoir capacity?
- Are the stock brake lines separated into front and back and brought back into the engine compartments or will I have to run all new brake lines.?
- It appears that single master cylinders were used so that each wheel would have equal braking pressure applied, and larger wheel cylinders were used in the front to proportion additional braking to the front wheel. Will changing the master cylinder also require changing each wheel cylinder?
- Any recommendation on parts suppliers or possibly a kit to make these modifications?
Thanks
MOA
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