Need help identifying my brake cylinders

[Stephen R.]

I have replaced all 4 of my brake cylinders and now have decided to have the old ones rebuilt. I'm not sure that they are the original cylinders to my 59 and don't want to waste the money rebuilding incorrect parts. The following are the numbers off of the parts:

First: 1 1/8 " 5453821 (large 821)
Delco Moraine Prod Dayton Ohio

second:
1 1/8" 5453822 (large 822)
Delco Moraine prod Dayton Ohio

third: there is an "R" upper boss left and a vertical "76" upper boss right
1" 5456649 (large 649)

fourth: not much identification but has: EIS 519. below that, "made in USA", below that P9.

Any help identifying these would be appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

[John F.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

My 62 has the large 649s on the rear, both sides. My fronts are 1 3/16" 5459527 & 528.

[John F.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

Pics of the 649s.

[John S.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

649 are definitely used on the back in 59. i know earlier corvettes were using the 821 and 822 and believe they are used on the 59. the 527 and 528 with the 1 3/16 bore were used in 60 thru 62 exc HD

[Stephen R.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

got another question.

The 821/822 are left/right cylinders. Is the 649 also left/right? Seems weird that they would use one number for two different cylinders but a guy on Ebay has a set of 649's for sale and they are different.How can you tell left from right?

[Peter R.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

No, the 649s are identical--doesn't matter which side of the car you use them on. The fronts are mirror images of each other and so there are separate left and right cylinders; therefore two different part numbers in the front, but only one part number in the back.

[John S.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

No, the 649s are identical--doesn't matter which side of the car you use them on. The fronts are mirror images of each other and so there are separate left and right cylinders; therefore two different part numbers in the front, but only one part number in the back.

you better look again if you have a car. both brake lines hook up toward the rear of the car. so there is a right and left hand cylinder.

[Peter R.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

You're right, John; I stand corrected. On my '57 the rears are left and right because their ports are angled to the rear. On my '54, the rears are the same--the brake line enters through a right-angle brass block, so the ports in the rear cylinders are not angled. Sorry.

[Stephen R.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

Is there a marking on the cylinder that indicates left/right or is it just a matter of fitting it up to the plate?

[John F.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

No L or R on the 649s. Use on either side.

[Stephen R.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

Here's a picture of the 649's. Which is the passenger's side and which is the driver's?

[Joe L.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

You're right, John; I stand corrected. On my '57 the rears are left and right because their ports are angled to the rear. On my '54, the rears are the same--the brake line enters through a right-angle brass block, so the ports in the rear cylinders are not angled. Sorry.

Peter-----


For the rear brake cylinders the CASTINGS are the same for each side, thus both have the same CASTING NUMBER. However, the FINISHED PART NUMBERS are different for either side since the castings are machined differently for either side. The finished part numbers are shown nowhere on the cylinders, though.

Delco-Moraine did the same thing with caliper halves for 65-82 Corvettes. Some of the caliper halves use the same CASTING NUMBER for both sides but each side is machined differently so, even though they have the same casting numbers, the halves are unique to a particular position.

[John F.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

Look and see what side the brake line is coming from. If from the front use that WC, if from the rear, use that WC.

[Richard M.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

From the Parts Book below

FRONTS:
1953-1959, 1960-1962 w/HD Brakes,Susp
Front Left- 5455479 (cast 5453822 1-1/8")
Front Right- 5455478 (cast 5453821 1-1/8")

REARS:
1956-1962, Exc HD Brakes,Susp
Rear Left- 5459918
Rear Right- 5459917

http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=66735

[Stephen R.]

Re: Need help identifying my brake cylinders

The problem is that I have the WC shown on the left I want to buy the one on the right but don't know what to ask for or how to describe it since they both show the same number. I'll crawl under the car tomorrow and see if I can Identify what I have.