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Denis,
Reproductions of 57, 58 & 59 brake boosters are
available from a company called Karps out of Upland, California. This
company went to enormous trouble to replicate these otherwise
completely unobtainable to find parts a few years ago. Chrysler 300s
from this era also use them and their owners created a demand for the part,
thank goodness. I bought one a few years ago. The price was very
reasonable and the part itself is phenomenally good. (I am one very cheap
guy, and usually feel entitled to complain if any part isn't sent to
me just about free and installed at their expense, too.) I cannot
recommend Karps highly enough.
They will offer to install the new part for you. If I
was you, I'd let them. You will have to send your old booster to them by
UPS unless you are close enough to drive it there. I have replaced it
myself but it is a lot of work. You'd be surprised how many fiddly little
parts are in the booster. You'll need to completely remove the
booster. There are eight bolts holding it on and you know they
are hard to get to. In the course of this procedure, you will have to
remove the master cylinder. Be prepared for some issues with bleeding the
system when you re-install it. In my experience, it is next to impossible
to power bleed a 1958 with the original MC, although some people have suggested
some ingenious ways to do it. One way is to get a spare top for the MC -
easier said than done in itself - and drill a hole in it. You then get a
hose of some sort and feed fluid into it from a tank higher than the car, using
gravity.
It all sounds very complicated and it is. I know you are
in California. If you are anywhere near this place and they agree to do
it, have it towed to them and let them do it. Getting the parts off and
then back on again is not for the faint of heart. Bleeding the system is
very, very difficult.
Warning. I'll run hotter than a
three dollar gun when someone who does not have a 57, 58 or 59 writes in to this
list and says I am overstating the case in their lousy, inexperienced,
stupid, opinion. Unless you have done this job on this era of car, keep
your, "I would think . . . " opinions to yourself. I wish you would
think before you run right into the facts. Trust me, I won't be
subtle.
The brakes on this era of car can work very well when they are
set up correctly and well maintained. Setting them up is not easy.
Your average brake shop hardly has the tools to get the rear hubs off let alone
bleed an almost impossible to access round topped single pot master
cylinder.
Denis, I've had the pleasure of communicating with you
before. I'm glad you are getting the roof fixed on your beautiful
car. I hope your partner is well and is able to go with you on your
trip. I'm glad you don't need it to be ready till August. You can
relax and find a place that can get the brakes done right.
Hugh
1958 Imperial
(With more brake experience on this car than I care to think
about.)
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