Brake question on a 54 Mercury

[Bob from Northport]

When changing the wheel cylinders on the front, the cylinders have a connection point for the rubber brake hose that is offset from center. Is the hose connection point offset to the front of the wheel cylinders-ie toward the front of the car-when installing- or toward the rear of the car??

 

[KULTULZ]

It should be to the rear. It will (should) only fit one way due to hose length/binding.

 

[Bob from Northport]

Thanks! They were reversed when I took them off. I didn't think they looked right

 

[KULTULZ]

Thanks! They were reversed when I took them off. I didn't think they looked right

​

Now that is scary. Did there seem any bind in the hoses when turning the wheel L to R? Just make sure the hoses do not bind/rub in any fashion.

Does your SHOP MANUAL show a photo of the hoses installed?

 

[KULTULZ]

I am still having nightmares on this one ...

I a$$-u-me you have bought CHI-COM SLOPPY COPIES (metric bleeding screw) to replace hopefully what were OEM cylinders (may be hard to determine after all of these years).

When you look at the take-offs, do you see any markings as to possibly ID them, i.e. FORD and/or BENDIX ID?

IMO ...

With a car this old and considering what is out there to service one properly, it might be a consideration to have the cylinders remanufactured, i.e. SS sleeving and quality wheel cyl kits w/ cup expanders.

If one went about it in this fashion with frequent fluid changes, the chances of a future failure would be nil.

Same with the MC.

DO NOT sh!tcan!

Do the replacement cylinders look like anything that came off (and there is no guarantee what was on there before)?

Now one more point to b!tch about ...

If one has the original brake drum w/ the adjustment slot, if one has it relined instead of replacing it with an off-shore might fit, you will be able to retain the original adjustment procedures for that period brake design.