Master Cylinder Access

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

I am sorry to say that the access to the master cylinder on 1960 is just as bad 
as other years. 1961 may be also, but 1962 was different.

Paul

In a message dated 12/21/2003 1:18:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
hugtrees@xxxxxxxx writes:

> 
> 
> Paul wrote, in response to Bill,:
> 
> 
> > I think the brake booster on the '59 Imperial is rather easy to remove.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> Bill wrote:
> 
> Your idea of bringing it to a local brake shop, and
> > > then sending the unit out to Karps sounds very promising.
> 
> 
> I surmise that what is easy for some is not for others.  We have different
> strengths and weaknesses.  I agree with Paul as far as this - removing the
> booster is indeed quite easy.  Taking the booster apart, having acquired a
> new exterior, and putting it back together is also not rocket science.
> However . . . this is really where the problem(s) begin.
> 
> I went to the web site and checked out the 1960s.  (Lovely cars, by the
> way.)  I notice they have a better type of brake booster on them, hopefully
> one that will allow more reasonable access to the master cylinder.  The
> problem with the 57/58/59 era is that accessing the master cylinder with a
> power bleeder is nigh on impossible.  For routine maintenance, this is just
> a nettlesome quirk.  However it really becomes a nightmare when it comes to
> bleeding the system when the master cylinder is being reinstalled.  Someone,
> somewhere, out there has a power bleeder that was designed to fit the round,
> single pot, master cylinder that is situated bang right up close beneath the
> overhanging bellows unit.  Unfortunately no one seems to know who this
> fortunate individual is.
> 
> I have taken my car to brake shops that turned out to be unable to even
> remove the hubs on the rear wheels, because they lacked the requisite
> puller.  I have had another which did the whole job.  Almost.  They could
> not bleed the brakes.  I had to get a wrecker to get my 'almost' fixed car
> back to the museum.  With air in the brake lines it was too unsafe to drive.
> I was a little beyond disgruntled about this, you may be sure.  I have had
> more problems with the brakes on my 1958 than everything else put together.
> They have been a recurring problem.  Rebuilt master cylinders have failed so
> frequently that I was obligated to upgrade to a more modern, twin pot style,
> if only because I no longer believe the single pot style can ever be said to
> be safe.  My car was in an accident at 5 MPH when the brakes failed again.
> Regrettably, I ran into the back of a Dodge pick up.  The difference in
> bumper height held to huge damage to the Imperial even though the pick up
> was virtually unscratched.
> 
> With the new master cylinder, from a Dodge of the mid 1960s that still had
> all around drums, I was able to, at last, be able to power bleed my brakes,
> though it took a certain amount of ingenuity and determination to make it
> work.
> 
> My point is that opinions with regard to how easy working on these brakes
> may or may not be don't add up to a hill of beans.  With the 57/58/59
> Imperial, you are dealing with a designed in Achilles heel and you just have
> to do the best you can with what you have.  Good luck finding a shop that
> will try to do it.  Even more good luck in finding one that can actually do
> the job.  I would find it impossible to criticize anyone who puts on a newer
> type of booster and a better master cylinder.  I have not replaced my
> original style of booster out of a sheer pig headed desire to keep my car as
> original as possible.
> 
> There is an odd element that I cannot help but remark on here.  If you try
> my truck inner tube over the broken booster temporary repair, nothing has to
> be removed so you get working brakes for basically nothing, except the
> effort of installing the tube over the bellows unit.  Under Bill's
> circumstances it is definitely the route I would take until a shop that will
> and can do the job is found.  The shop will need the right equipment, and
> that is not going to be easy to find.  If Karpps has gone to the trouble of
> recreating the rubber for the bellows unit and also does the installation,
> they would be the best people to tackle the job.  A phone call to them will
> answer that question.  Being as far away from them as Texas, taking my car
> to them was not an option.
> 
> Hugh
> 
> 
> 
>