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.
Here is a link to their site:
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.)
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005 6:18
PM
Subject: IML: 1958 Brake Bellows
Well, after two attempts to get the brake right on the 58, the Bellows
has a nasty leak in it. Are these still available, and where can I get one?
Perhaps the third time will be lucky? This car will be driven 850 miles down
to Tucson in August or September.
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