Master cylinder on 78

oz camino · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: Master cylinder on 78

Hi All

My 350 78 is at the mechanics having a new cam fitted ( 4 mechanics and 3 weeks to establish this - Although I am still not sure on this prognosis)

and he has called saying the brakes are going to the floor and he is having difficulty moving it around work shop.

Story goes the car has been sitting for a few years ( 6 to 8 years with out much use) brakes were ok, not great but ok.

In trying to get it on the road I was asked to replace wheel cylinder and brake hoses. No Problems ( well except for those stupid clips that hold the wheel cylinders on) although in fitting new hoses I twisted a break hose and had to get part of the copper replaced.

Once complete the system never really had a good bleed ( wife was helping me and had trouble understanding English at that particular point in time...:-/ ) and I also think that the reservoir ran dry. Air lock in master cylinder?? been reading about the and bench bleeding.

Anyway I have driven it twice since after putting everything back together and the brakes were usable, but i was guessing needed a full bleed or bench bleed as only half a pedal really, now he is telling me that I need a new brake master brake cylinder. Dont have a problem going this way but being in Australia it makes it harder finding one or buying one and not being able to return it because it is wrong.

I have been looking but not sure if something like this * eBay master cylinder * will fit or is it better to have this one service, or try teh bench bleed first, if a master cylinder is only 100 buck happy to go that way but not much is 100 bucks these days and the ebay seems cheep so feel i am missing something?

Sorry a bit all over the place, was hoping to have the car on the road 4 weeks ago, but every time i think it is going to happen something else goes wrong... starting to drive me insane after all this is still need to go to another mechanic to have the LPG system fitted (think you guys call it propane )

Also when is states manual brake equipped does that mean with out power booster ( which I have)

Cheers Oz C
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71 El Camino super charged 454 (sold)
78 Black Knight (on the road)

MEvang · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

Oz,
I see your post has gone unanswered for a while. My advice, if you still need it is NOT to buy a master cylinder off EBay.
I would try bench bleeding and bleeding the hole system first. Typically a bad master cylinder will give a good hard pedal, unless you push the pedal slow and lightly. Then it will drop off to the floor.
If you do need a new master make sure you get a "new" one. Most masters sold are rebuilds and this is usually not disclosed.
If you buy a name brand, like a Rabsetos part number MC 39016 will get you a new quality unit. (RMC is a rebuild)
If you need help finding one let me know.
Mike
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"That the automobile has practically reached the limit of its development is suggested by the fact that during the past year no improvements of a radical nature have been introduced." (Scientific American January 2, 1909).