Need help (brake info)

[stan]

Hello,

I'm Stan from holland, and I have a Buick Roadmaster serie 70 from 1956.
It's a nice fine car, and I like to drive it :3gears:

But last weekend I drove away from home and I had no BRAKES :eek2: :confused:
So I put back the car in the garage and take a look what was the problem.
the level of brake fluid was OK
the wheels were dry so OK
Now I think it is the master brake cylinder the problem
I can pres the brake pedal and puss it to the ground, the car don't stop at all!!
Whit the engine on and the engine off (powerbreake)
the vacum is working.

Now my question:
Is the master brake cylinder the problem?
And have someone a exploded view of the brake cylinder.
I can't get to the breake cylinder becose it is diffecult to reatch

some one anny idees? please


(sorry for my bad english)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/bruidsauto/DSC_7214.jpg

Greatz from the Netherlands
Stan
Buick Roadmaster hardtop 4doors serie 70 1956
322 V8

[gstewart]

typical symptoms of a master cylinder failure.

[rogbo1]

I am no expert, but I would check all the wheel cylinders too for leaks.
You may have just lost all your fluid. I know that master cylinder is hard to
get at but you should be able to at least get the screw in fill cover off to
check the fluid level.
Also, I always preach this that a shop manual is a must for these old cars.
I see them all the time on ebay sometimes even on CDs. Very helpful. When I buy a new old car, the very first thing I get before any parts is a manual. :Smarty:
And I see rebuild kits for these for sale by most Buick suppliers.

[stan]

I have checkt the fluid, it was full.
I also looked to the wheels and they are dry so no leaks.
The simptons are the sama as air in the brake system so it must be the master cylinder i think.
I have several books and cd's of the car :TU:
I have found a small item in a school book for the buick whit the power brake in it

Now te next problem is to get the master cylinder out of the car.
It's not posible :rant:

So I started to take out the complete engine (I wanted that anyway)

Then I get the master cylinder out whitout anny damage

thanks everyone

I will post some photo's if i have

Stan

[stan]

The car:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5289.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5307.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5331.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5332.jpg

The brake cylinder

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5311.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5314.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5316.jpg


if I have more I post the photo's

[rogbo1]

Man, that looks like a lot of work to fix a master cylinder.
Now I'm glad my 56 Special has manual brakes.
And hope I never have trouble with them.
No wonder they moved the brake master cylinder up on the
fire wall on later model cars. A lot easier.
Good luck getting it back together.

[stan]

You don't need to doo so many work to remove the brakecylinder :beer

You can just take out the plate inside te car and remove it (i ditn't know :Dou: )

But I pulling out the engine for a total rebuild :Smarty:

Here the brake cylinder

I opend the master cylinder and there was a lot of durt in it :(
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/before-total.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/before-firstpart.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/before-cap.jpg

After some cleaning and inspecting the parts, there is noting broken or not working.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/after-total.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/after-secondpart.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/after-firstpart.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/after-cap.jpg

Now I need to do the vacum cylinder to look if there is the problem

[northern buick]

I trust that you have found a manual for the brake system if you are as far along as you appear to be. I drive a 1957 Buick model 73 (in Canada) I could scan something out of my manual if it will help you. I must say that the pin-up girl sitting on your car is a lot prettier than the ones usually seen hanging around cars in current magazines. Cheers

[Truzi]

I've never seen a master cylinder of that age. Wow.

It could be a bad seal.

When you say no brakes, do you mean you have to step on the pedal very hard and barely stop? Or do you get nothing at all?

[stan]

I donn't think it is a bad seal.
I have inpect them and they look good to me.
When I say no brakes, I mean I get nothing at all. (like air in the system)
Push the pedal to the bottom and totaly nothing :Do No:

I have now the piston cleand , and there are some bad spots on it.
maby is that the problem.
Do any one know where to buy a new one? (maby kanters)

Thanks
Stan

[stan]

Update!

The brake is fixt :)
A frend had the piston repaird, they have chromed the piston, after they make the size correct.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/piston.jpg

So I build the brake together and this is the result:


Self made gaskets

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/overzicht.jpg



before:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/DSC_5311.jpg

after:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a377/my_fiero/buick%20engine%20rebuilt/brake-klaar2.jpg