***Need help on BRAKES - 53 Merc Monterey***

[Merc Cruzer]

O'Reilly's has them for $12.99 - BrakeBest Wheel Cylinder

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search/1...wheel+cylinder

[rotorwrench]

FoMoCo used the cylinder diameter to regulate the operating force between front and rear brakes since proportioning valves didn't exist yet. The fronts are larger than the rears in piston diameter. The original FoMoCo parts books generally list the piston diameter.

Mercury cars had heavier duty brake set ups than Fords as a general rule but I'm not certain of that on the later 52/53 cars since they aren't all that much different in weight from the Ford cars. My 51 Mercs are definitely heavier than the 51 Ford shoe box types.

I purchased from Rock Auto the last time I ordered brake parts. I usually went for Wagner brand back then but the foreign stuff all looks the same these days. Rock Auto carries the name brands so that folks can have a choice if there is a difference. That's hard to say though.

[53MERC]

Thanks for the info.
I see a lot of you are recommending Rockauto.
I have never used them.
What kind of turn time do they have on parts?
A few days? Week?

[tubman]

In my experience, they ship the same or next day. I must be lucky, because I've never had a bad experience with them.

Up to a couple of years ago, they had year-end clearance sales, and I was able to stock up on a bunch of stuff for my '51. Brake cylinders, points (and other ignition parts), gaskets, bendix springs, etc at incredibly cheap prices. Most of the stuff was overstock from some of the companies they acquired and were domestically produced. I like 'em!

[JSeery]

The Rock Auto stuff I have ordered was very low priced and old stock USA parts. I have always been happy with their service.

[rotorwrench]

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I've had problems with them on one off beat part. It was for front wheel drive half shafts and they were miss matched in the boxes. I was having problem getting them locally so I ordered from them but I will never order half shafts for a 20 year old car from them again. They must have purchased some old inventory to sell and it just happened to be crap. They quickly issued me a return shipping decal and shipped the next part they had in line which was also miss marked. At least I got one good one out of the deal.

My experience with them has been very good until that incident. If they would have had just the boots in stock, I would have just purchased them. I ended up getting boots from flea-pay so my problem was solved. I pitched the wrong half shaft. It's not worth going round and round. I just wanted the car fixed ASAP and that slowed that way down. The price of the half shaft was less than the boots if you can believe that.

I've purchased a lot of brake parts from them and have never had a problem.

[53MERC]

Awesome. Thanks for the info on Rock Auto. I will have to try them out.
Not sure I can this time because my car is up on the rack right now. Hopefully they can source the parts I need tomorrow and get me going.
I definitely want the drums checked, shoes checked/changed, and wheel cylinders replaced.
Thanks All.

[53MERC]

Well, the drums were turned. Brake hoses, wheel cylinders, and shoes have been replaced. I am good to go! Picking the Merc up tomorrow.

Thanks for everyones help.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by 53MERC

Well, the drums were turned. Brake hoses, wheel cylinders, and shoes have been replaced. I am good to go! Picking the Merc up tomorrow.

Thanks for everyones help.

Yeah, that all sounds good. But HOW does it drive/stop? DD

[53MERC]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Yeah, that all sounds good. But HOW does it drive/stop? DD

Thanks for asking. I made the maiden voyage home from the shop today, and it performed great! I had never driven the car before today. When I bought it about a month ago, I had it towed right to the shop.
They put in a new gas tank and sening unit, my original repaired radiator, motor mounts, carb kit, and new brakes. Turned the drums, new shoes, new wheel cylinders, new brake hoses.

The car runs great, sounds great with a nice low rumble, stops great AND straight. No issues thank God.
All the lights, signals, and horn work fine. The wipers do not work, so thats on the to-do list.
Also, need to replace the front floor pan. I don't plan on putting a lot of money into this car. Just want to enjoy driving it. I love the worn patina look on the car.
The mechanic said he had so many people looking at the Merc when it was in the shop. Good to hear.

Thanks again Gang!

[tomcarman]

I've been following this thread and I'm pleased to hear of your results. Great looking car and in my opinion keeping its assumed original patina is the best decision.

[RalphG]

Yes, Rock Auto has been a good source of parts for me. Glad to hear your Merc drives (and stops) as good as it looks. Hoping to find time to take mine out for a spin once things slow down a little here.

[eddie48]

Many years ago when I worked in a front-end shop, we would occasionally have a problem with a new brake job pulling right or left. What we would do is to swap the parts in the left side with the right side parts, one part at a time until we found the part causing the pull. Could be a cylinder, hose or even a spring.

[54vicky]

Originally Posted by eddie48

Many years ago when I worked in a front-end shop, we would occasionally have a problem with a new brake job pulling right or left. What we would do is to swap the parts in the left side with the right side parts, one part at a time until we found the part causing the pull. Could be a cylinder, hose or even a spring.

the problem with that approach is that the cylinders are R+L specific

[53MERC]

Originally Posted by tomcarman

I've been following this thread and I'm pleased to hear of your results. Great looking car and in my opinion keeping its assumed original patina is the best decision.

Thank you. It will be garaged and not driven a lot, so I don't think I will need to spray it with anything to preserve the patina.
I love how it looks. That's the reason I fell in love with it.

[53MERC]

Originally Posted by RalphG

Yes, Rock Auto has been a good source of parts for me. Glad to hear your Merc drives (and stops) as good as it looks. Hoping to find time to take mine out for a spin once things slow down a little here.

Thanks Ralph. I'm looking forward to another video from you. Bring that rooster with you this time. Great horn. LOL.

You and Merc Cruzer (Roy) have been a great help.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by 53MERC

Thanks for asking. I made the maiden voyage home from the shop today, and it performed great! I had never driven the car before today. When I bought it about a month ago, I had it towed right to the shop.
They put in a new gas tank and sening unit, my original repaired radiator, motor mounts, carb kit, and new brakes. Turned the drums, new shoes, new wheel cylinders, new brake hoses.

The car runs great, sounds great with a nice low rumble, stops great AND straight. No issues thank God.
All the lights, signals, and horn work fine. The wipers do not work, so thats on the to-do list.
Also, need to replace the front floor pan. I don't plan on putting a lot of money into this car. Just want to enjoy driving it. I love the worn patina look on the car.
The mechanic said he had so many people looking at the Merc when it was in the shop. Good to hear.

Thanks again Gang!

Congrats, the first drive is always the most exciting. Glad to hear the work done on the car was all successful. Now drive it and enjoy it.

"Also, need to replace the front floor pan." I just watched the video and he says the 52-54 Ford floor pan fits the Merc.

http://emsautomotive.com/index.php?r...ory&path=18_66

[tubman]

You don't by any chance, have the stock wheels, tires, and hubcaps, do you?

[53MERC]

Originally Posted by tubman

You don't by any chance, have the stock wheels, tires, and hubcaps, do you?

I sure do. I have the original rims (4 + spare) mounted with bias ply tires, and the hubcaps. They are all in great condition too.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by 53MERC

I sure do. I have the original rims (4 + spare) mounted with bias ply tires, and the hubcaps. They are all in great condition too.

Very nice classic tires you have there. I only have one surviving original full wheel cover. They tend to fall off so I've hung the survivor on the wall and am using some "dog dish" caps from a Meteor.