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airforce guy
11-17-2007, 08:45 PM
Good day!! Hope that everyone is well! I have a silly question. How can you tell if you have power brakes? I have a 55 buick super, and tha manual is not very clear. As far as I can tell the service area is on the driver side, appears to be a tube with a square type cap. I can see the linkage under the car that connects to brake pedal, and a cylinder to the left of that. Any thoughts? Thanks
rogbo1
11-18-2007, 08:00 PM
I suspect you have manual brakes. Below is link to what a manual brake master cylinder looks like. Power brakes would have big air booster cylinder in addition to this. Usually if it has power brakes the brake pedal would have that embossed on it also, although that rubber pad can be replaced by a non power brake pad. The other way to tell is by driving the car. I had a 56 with out power brake and it was obvious it took a lot more leg power to stop the car. Maybe somone else can comfirm my opinion. I know I could tell if I drove it. Ask some old guy to drive it, he could tell in a heart beat!:Comp:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/56-Buick-Delco-Master-Cylinder-NOS_W0QQitemZ220172907121QQihZ012QQcategoryZ34199Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
airforce guy
11-18-2007, 09:02 PM
Roger thanks for the info. The brake pad does not have the word power on it, there is a cylinder that I assume holds air, It sits on the left frame rail just aft of the "master cylinder" I have looked under the drivers side floor panel to see if there is a servicing area, bur no luck, the manuel states that Power brakes fluid service is located on the left side, there is a service port there I just need to trace it back and see where it goes, I curreently have the engine pulled out so I can do some work/paint. Thanks for all your help.
buickbonery
11-20-2007, 10:57 AM
My understanding is that the brake fluid fill tube is accessible under the hood if it is a power brake, and accessible from inside the car if it is standard. But the easiest way to tell is to look under the car. The power brake assembly will be mounted near the frame, directly below the driver's seat.