Cleaning steel brake pipes or tubes inside... how??

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Ian - don't waste time and effort trying to restore those. Go new with either a brake shop or get Howard to make you a set.

Bob

[sth65pac]

Well:

Here are the pipes and as you can all now see the rear main and front chassis rail/ frame tubes are cactus.

Petrol cleans all the grease off them, but you have to be careful not to get it inside the tubes as it reacts with brake fluid... mind you the score is 1-3 with one pipe salvageable.

As you can see the rear main pipe was extremely pitted, and I managed to snap it on removal. It was good experience, as I was unsure if the pipes were pre-bent. It appears that by & large they are not except for a few tight radius's.

Having a 7/16 flare nut spanner will allow me to get the remaining unions undone. I feel like I am going backwards in destruct-a-tation, not forwards in restoration.

Howard; Fancy a weekend at the beach??? Bring your pipe, swaging tools, tube & family.. .

Ian

[sth65pac]

On the subject of brakes:

The 'upside' was that the master cylinder was in excellent shape, full of soft decomposed rubber which preserved the bore. A week of soaking in Methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and I managed to clean the goop out.

I used a piece of wooden dowel with a piece of Scotchbrite (scrubbie) to clean the bore to sparkling cast iron grey, and then lightly buffed it with 1200 grade wet & dry paper to remove any imperfections.... Anyone need the part number of the Ford Master Cylinder Overhaul kit in Oz???? See second picture.. one plastic bag says it all.

Keith would you be so kind as to add the Kit P/n to the spares list on MLU?

The bellcrank assembly was serviceable after I removed the dirt and cleaned the clevis pins.

More parts to be hung up & painted....

Ian

[Keith Webb]

Keith would you be so kind as to add the Kit P/n to the spares list on MLU?

I take the easy route and give master cylinders to a brake reco place who rebore and sleeve in stainless and return complete with a kit ready to use so I'm sorry but I don't have a kit number.

[sth65pac]

Keith.......

I meant in the Excel spreadsheet in parts sources and prices. I have added to the thread. For all the Aussies it was $30.00 for the kit. Which is an IBS brand KX4 kit..

I cannot see why you cant overhaul a Chev Master Cylinder??? Aren't they the same diameter cylinder?

I am sunburnt today, spent an hour or more in the place where the engine once lay cleaning away the mud and grease... There is real green paint there...

Oh and we need some pictures of Chris's F15 in the making....

Ian

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by sth65pac

I cannot see why you cant overhaul a Chev Master Cylinder??? Aren't they the same diameter cylinder?

Actually, it's quite easy to find the guts to overhaul a chev master cylinider. The problem comes when the interior is pitted, then you have to go the resleeve route or look for a replacement. Repalcements are rare since most 1-1/4 inch master cylinders were side mounted rather than the CMP base mount and most base mount master cylinders are 1 inch diameter (and easy to find in this size.

[sth65pac]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

Actually, it's quite easy to find the guts to overhaul a chev master cylinder. The problem comes when the interior is pitted, then you have to go the re sleeve route or look for a replacement. Replacements are rare since most 1-1/4 inch master cylinders were side mounted rather than the CMP base mount and most base mount master cylinders are 1 inch diameter (and easy to find in this size.

So Grant,

Can you ream a 1" Master cylinder to an 1-1/4"? or Can you sleeve an 1-1/4 to an inch?

I agree the Chev M/c's are a side mount affair.. can I ream & re-sleeve them?
Ian

[Howard]

Originally Posted by sth65pac

...Howard; Fancy a weekend at the beach??? Bring your pipe, swaging tools, tube & family.. .
Ian

Ian,
Sounds good. But not before Corowa!
HH

[sth65pac]

Jeez Howard, the least you can do is drop by b4 Corowa... how am I going to drive there with no brakes .

Seriously, I cant see me getting my truck done in time.. (sad but true) so I will have to bring the mighty Nissan & Caravan...

Ian

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Ian - outsource and get a professional job. As an example I had the master and two wheel cylinders refurbished in December 2008.

Master - dismantle, clean, hone and polish bore and reassemble with new kit that included all rubbers and pistons. $104.30.

Wheel - same as above plus boring to accept stainless steel sleeve. Complete rebuild with insert, all rubbers and pistons - $119 each.

Back in January 2008 I had two brake lines made - $71.40.

Bob

[sth65pac]

Bob,

I have already overhauled the Master cylinder. The F15A is about my 34th vehicle so I am happy to take ideas, and techniques. I don't accept I know it all because I DON'T. Many people have great ideas here.. and hence I ask...

Yes I am getting brake-lines made.

As for the wheel cylinders: I will most likely buy new or hone & refurbish the oldies. This is the easy stuff. All the panel work is the hardest part for me..

I don't think I will make Corowa with a 'driveable vehicle' so I will have to just bring the caravan, camera, & a carton of beer.

Ian

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Ian - I hope you don't think I was trying to teach you how to suck eggs. However I have seen numerous "restoration" efforts that I call pensioner restorations, where cost cutting shortcuts have been utilised, especially in the brakes area. I posted the costs to demonstrate to the uninformed just how inexpensive a professional refurbishment is.

34 vehicles, most impressive. What have you done?

Bob