Front brake cylinder help

[Bob C]

On Bendix brakes like you have short shoe goes to the front.

[JayChicago]

Originally Posted by Ricosan

Thanks Guys
I have cleaned all the parts to the wheel cylinder and am ready to reinstall.
Questions
1. I’ve read all I can about these brakes but I’m still a bit confused as to which shoe goes to front. I read that on Lincoln brakes the longer shoe goes on the front. I can’t tell which shoe is longer. I plan to reinstall the same orientation as they were removed. Is this correct?
2. Do I need to bleed all four brake cylinders now or can I just bleed the front right brake I am working on?

In your picture I see two different shoes. The shoes may be the same size, but the rear shoe's lining (the wearing surface) is longer. That's what is known as the long shoe.

With a "self-energizing" design (which this is), the long brake shoe goes on the rear. The front shoe uses natural wheel rotation to grab better, but then it pushes against (self-energizes) the rear shoe. The rear shoe gets force top and bottom, so gets the long shoe. (This is just the opposite of the earlier Lockheed design, in which the shoes are not able to move at the bottom, force only applied at the cylinder. Then the long shoe goes on front where it gets rotation's helping force)

Any time I work on one brake, I only bled that one wheel. But if the steel brake line on the frame is opened, which feeds both right and left sides, I would feel the need to bleed both sides. But if only worked on the front, would not bleed the back.

I could never get the vacuum brake bleeder to work for me. If it sucks a tiny amount of air around the brake bleeder threads, it will suck air before fluid.

[jimvette59]

Disconnect the METAL line at CHASSIS, pull the clip that holds the rubber line and unscrew the rubber line from the wheel cylinder. Replace the wheel cylinder, screw the rubber line back into the wheel cylinder then install the rubber line into the bracket at the CHASSIS and push the clip back in then screw the metal line back into the rubber line and bleed the system. just the way it's done.

[Ricosan]

Shoes appear to be exact copies of each other. Both measure 17”. Are these the wrong shoes?
Richard

[Ricosan]

Thanks for clearing that up for me corvette. I see it now.
Ordered two wheel cylinders from Early Ford Parts in South Carolina. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
I plan to replace both front cylinders.
Question. I don’t know what type of brake fluid is in the system right now. I added non synthetic brake fluid when I first got the car but when I disassembled the wheel cylinder I didn’t notice the smell I’ve always associated with brake fluid. Has the smell changed or is my old nose broken?
What brake fluid should I use? Do I need to flush the whole system?
Richard

[rich b]

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Originally Posted by Ricosan

Shoes appear to be exact copies of each other. Both measure 17”. Are these the wrong shoes?
Richard

The length of the lining is what makes a shoe "long" or "short".

If you look at the picture of your right front brake assy that you have posted to this thread a couple times; you can see the lining is shorter in length on the front (primary) shoe vs longer on the rear shoe (secondary).

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Ricosan

Thanks for clearing that up for me corvette. I see it now.
Ordered two wheel cylinders from Early Ford Parts in South Carolina. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
I plan to replace both front cylinders.

What brake fluid should I use? Do I need to flush the whole system?
Richard

RICHARD ..... The most important part to realize here is that the wheel CYLINDERS that you are replacing ARE NOT old Ford Lockheed-Style wheel cylinders. They are likely the BOLING BROTHERS reproduction Lincoln brakes, which will surely require a different wheel cylinder. They can be seen, and available from the link BELOW.

https://www.bolingbrothers.com/replacement-parts/



And since you're not sure what type fluid you have in the system, I'd feel better flushing your system, then using a GOOD brand of DOT type 3 brake fluid. A really GOOD one to consider is a Lucas Product, available BELOW from Amazon. Whatever brand you choose, make sure you get enough (ONE quart usually isn't enough). Buy yourself 2-3 quarts.


https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Oil-108...004AHDCB8?th=1

Coop

.

[rich b]

Don't know if will help; but I usually use Raybestos WC24954 & WC24955 wheel cylinders for Lincoln front bakes.

1-1/8" bore with 7/16"-20 hose thread.

Just checked and found they went up from $9.70 last fall when I last purchased several pair and are now $11.00 each from RockAuto.

Pretty sure these also come from the same offshore factory where all the vendors source them.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by rich b

Don't know if will help; but I usually use Raybestos WC24954 & WC24955 wheel cylinders for Lincoln front bakes.

1-1/8" bore with 7/16"-20 hose thread.

Just checked and found they went up from $9.70 last fall when I last purchased several pair and are now $11.00 each from RockAuto.

Pretty sure these also come from the same offshore factory where all the vendors source them.

Richard ..... Notice rich b's note above. Those same cylinders are available at most O'Reilly's stores for $23/each! See link BELOW!

Coop


https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...r/bhh1/wc24954

.

[Ricosan]

Rich & Coop, Thanks for the info and advise.
I ordered from the Early Ford Store in S. Carolina. Part no. 21A 2061 & 21A 2062. They look right. I hope they fit.
Richard

[rich b]

Originally Posted by Ricosan

Rich & Coop, Thanks for the info and advise.
I ordered from the Early Ford Store in S. Carolina. Part no. 21A 2061 & 21A 2062. They look right. I hope they fit.
Richard

21A part numbers are Lockheed brake cylinders.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by rich b

21A part numbers are Lockheed brake cylinders.

Richard ..... AGAIN, note rich b's note above. Apparently, you have ordered 1942-'48 Ford front cylinders, which IS NOT what you have there. You apparently have Boling Brothers Lincoln-type brakes. The cylinders that you ordered will look like these BELOW!



What you need are going to look like these, BELOW.



Coop

.

[Ricosan]

Thanks Guys,
Called O’Rileys an ordered a left and a right wheel cylinder. Will be here Tuesday morning and no shipping charge!
Richard