Rebuilding a '39 Wheel Cylinder?

Django

Django

Well-known member
Is it worth it to rebuild them, or should I get new ones. Kanter has them for $177 for 4. Raybestos offers rebuild kits, but it is basically the seals and a new spring. I know the current wheel cylinders are stuck, so I'm not sure what will be involved with rebuilding them.
 
if their is no pitting rebuilding is fine. years ago i had some old mopar ones resleeved and rebuilt them numerous time with 100% success.
 
Of course, it's a matter of opinion, and finances, but my experience has been to replace not rebuild. For the kind of money your talking about, it's a sure bet. Rebuilds do not always come out sucessfull, and tend to seep. What I do, is replace with new and go to silicone DOT5 fluid, and never have to replace again. I rebuild the old ones and put them on the shelf,........ mainly because I can't seem to throw anything away!
 
The set going on my cabriolet have been lying around rusting for 20+ years. So maybe those should be replaced. But I have a friend with a running driving car with stuck brakes. Perhaps they could be a candidate for a rebuild?
 
Django said:
Is it worth it to rebuild them, or should I get new ones. Kanter has them for $177 for 4. Raybestos offers rebuild kits, but it is basically the seals and a new spring. I know the current wheel cylinders are stuck, so I'm not sure what will be involved with rebuilding them.
Click to expand...

Be aware that there are some foreign-made cylinders out there that are
lower in price but are also lower in quality or are actually defective.

As for rebuilding, there is a limit that cylinders can be honed oversize (to remove pits) and still have the seals "seal"... Spending the time to rebuild and the $ for a kit, only to have the cylinder leak fluid all over the new lining is not very gratifying...
 
Rebuilding works if you have cylinders that don't have pits in the seal travel area... My own experience has taught me not to bother messing around... I had White Post sleeve a master cyl, I liked what they did, lifetime guarantee, if I remember correctly... Karl
 
I got some chinese made wheel cylinders for the F1 brakes I'm using in a '32. I used the old cylinders to make sure where the hoses were exiting and all that, and guess what- The chinese cylinders had the hoses coming out at all crazy angles! I guess that that's not one of their quality check points. I figured that I couldn't complain because I'm not using them on what they're made for, but... (By the way, they carried the Raybestos brand.)
 
from many years of rebuilding & designing brake systems I have seen over & over that if you hone rusted wheel or master cyls, given time the rust "grows " back again as it seems to get imbedded in the casting , causing them to leak again , getting brake fuid in your linings which is all but impossible to get out & makes a general mess also making you put more labour (time is money ) into the same job again !!!
SOOOOOOOOOoo I always like to replace with when ever possible with NEW ZEALAND made ????????? Just kidding ... Made in the good old USA parts made by great caring USA people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
 
KiWinUS said:
from many years of rebuilding & designing brake systems I have seen over & over that if you hone rusted wheel or master cyls, given time the rust "grows " back again as it seems to get imbedded in the casting , causing them to leak again , getting brake fuid in your linings which is all but impossible to get out & makes a general mess also making you put more labour (time is money ) into the same job again !!!
SOOOOOOOOOoo I always like to replace with when ever possible with NEW ZEALAND made ????????? Just kidding ... Made in the good old USA parts made by great caring USA people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Click to expand...

What I REALLY wanted to post was "throw the %&@! away..." and buy new USA cylinders; same goes for MCyls. BTW just sent info today to a "Kiwi in NZ" who has a LHD 32 PU (liberated from California)...
 
one thing you can do if your cylinder only has pitting in area where rubber doesn't travel before you hone it is soak it in molasses cut with water and the rust will disappear. then you can hone without future pitting.
 
C&G Early Ford Parts has new USA made wheel cylinders, other suppliers may also have them.
 
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