54 brake system test?

[Guy M.]

Has anyone tried to test the hydraulic brake system with no body, just chasis. can the master cyl be rigged and fill the system to check for leaks or just wait till later to see what is anything fails. Thanks for the input! Guy. I think Ill use silicone.

[Edward J.]

Re: 54 brake system test?

Guy, I believe that the foot pressure that is applied when your sitting in the seat and applying the the pedal manuelly may not be the same. I generally like to re-check all lines at the fittings by losening the fittings and retighten them twice, Each time seeing if the fitting will turn alittle farther this will help seat the lines and help with those unwanted leaks which can lead to a couple of beers(don't mind) and a few choice words.

I hope your used the regular steel lines, the stainless one can really be leak prone.

If you want some advice on starting the filling of the system let me know , I will tell you how to save some extra time.

[Chris S.]

Re: 54 brake system test?

I have never seen it tested with the body off
not sure you could get the predal pressure

tips
Make sure you have good crush washers at the front of the master cyl - they are prone to leak and leak bad.....
like above - make sure to tighten - loosen - retighten your brake and fuel lines....

If you reuse you orig wheel cylinders - you may have trouble getting them to seal at the banjo - ask me how I know ......
might have to replace them or file the opening flat - check for pitting.....

careful with DOT 5 - it is slicker than snot.......and you might not get the really firm brake pedal......

[Guy M.]

Re: 54 brake system test?

Thanks guys for the info, my chasis is just sitting there waiting to get married again ( divorce is expensive because its worth it) and I was wondering if there was ANYTHING I could do to shore up the brake system as its alot easier now. Ill do as you say and retighten everything again. I did use all new steel lines but I honed out the original rear cylinders. Maybe I should just put new ones in and be done with it. I would hate to have problems for the sake of originality. I just dont know which way to go with the fluid. I did buy silicone but that doesnt mean I have to use it. I have heard of the soft pedal issue and I have more confidence with a firm pedal. We all like firmness right?

[Edward J.]

Re: 54 brake system test?

Guy, A lot of members here swear by the Dot5, Myself it believe that in our older cars dot3 works just fine, It does however require some maintenance every 2 or 3 years, these cars do not get driven like our daily drivers. The biggest reason not to use DOT5 is the expense and sometimes as you know the difficulty of bleeding the system and leaks. a quart of dot3 is a lot less that a quart of Dot5. and Dot 3 has the ability to remove moisture, Dot 5 does not.The wheel cylinder re-use is a judgement call when you dissay. them if there was any pitting, The choice is to sleeve them or replace them, and of corase the sealing area of the fittings come into play to.I Myself would hate not to salvage something original.

The inspection of your brakes should be a once a year deal if you re-build your wheel cylinders. the single reservoir system leaves no margin of error. And a small leak on a wheel cylinder can mean problems.

[Jerry P.]

Re: 54 brake system test?

If you have a clean system... you will be sorry if you don't use DOT 5... my 54 has had DOT 5 for the last 25 years... not a drip or a leak in any part of the system... jer