Best place to get a brake rebuild kit for a '52 Chevy?

[burger]

I'm rebuilding the brakes on my hot rod, or more correctly, assembling them for the first time. My setup consists of '52 Chevy spindles & drums on the front and a '55 Chevy rear.

I'd like to replace EVERYTHING except maybe the wheel cylinders, which I'll rebuild coz they look OK.

Now I've got a few questions that maybe someone here can answer:

1) Correct me if I'm wrong here, but aren't '55 Chevy rear brakes the same as '52 brakes, meaning I could buy all this stuff in a single kit for a '52?

2) Is Kanter the best game in town to get a rebuild kit for '52 Chevy brakes? As much as I like to save money, brakes aren't an area where I'm going to cut corners -- I'd like to get quality (not exotic) parts.

3) Are there any sources for chrome dust caps? Mr Gasket sells a set, but they're squared off whereas I'd like something more bullet-like in shape.

4) Does anyone have experience converting to roller bearings?


Thanks,
Ed

[TooMany2count]

[ QUOTE ]
1) Correct me if I'm wrong here, but aren't '55 Chevy rear brakes the same as '52 brakes, meaning I could buy all this stuff in a single kit for a '52?


[/ QUOTE ]

couldnt tell ya if they are the same, but any GOOD parts store should be able too, & if all else fails just pull the cups out of the wheel cylinders & they should be able to match them by the size


[ QUOTE ]
2) Is Kanter the best game in town to get a rebuild kit for '52 Chevy brakes? As much as I like to save money, brakes aren't an area where I'm going to cut corners -- I'd like to get quality (not exotic) parts.

[/ QUOTE ]

brake parts are brake parts AS LONG as they are NAME BRAND parts & i would bet you can get them cheaper locally then from Kanter

[ QUOTE ]
3) Are there any sources for chrome dust caps? Mr Gasket sells a set, but they're squared off whereas I'd like something more bullet-like in shape.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have NOOOOOOOOOo idea on this

[ QUOTE ]
4) Does anyone have experience converting to roller bearings?

[/ QUOTE ]

well it aint cheap BUT if ya call the Filling Station www.fillingstation.com (http://www.fillingstation.com) TO ORDER: (800) 841-6622 INFORMATION: (541) 258-2114 they have the kit for $170 (part # FS216K) & the seals are $23 for the pair (part # FS213),, they must be a spiecal bearing at that cost because i have heard that even if ya buy them elsewhere they still AIN'T cheap...


but from this post http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB7&Number=528472&Forum=U BB7&Words=%20roller%20bearings&Match=Entire%20Phra se&Searchpage=0&Limit=925&Old=allposts&Main=525183 &Search=true#Post528472 i see you maybe able to get thme from [ QUOTE ]
--------------THERE IS NO U.S. MADE COUNTERPART TO THEM!!! They are available by numerous aftermarket sources, but the cheapest way to buy them is DIRECT from the Allied Bearing supplier in CA. If anyone is interested, I'll furnish the info by email (in the past, after every time I provide the info, everyone says "how do I locate a set of roller bearings?").


[/ QUOTE ] so ya may want to ask Tom about it also....joe

[SwitchBlade327]

i would think you could get all the parts you'd need from Napa & advance. I work for advance and if I couldn't get it through our place, I just called my cousin at Napa and he could usually find it for me...I try to use kanter as a last resort though since they always seem to be more expensive....

[burger]

Thanks for the advice. I had considered going to AutoZone/NAPA for the parts, but assumed that I would pay less if I bought it all as a "kit".


Thanks,
Ed

[ray]

i don't know about the rest of the parts, but you can go to autozone, and get the dork running the computer to look up the wheel cylinders/kits...and his computer will actually list em! standard stuff they are.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Nothern:

http://www.northernautoparts.com/Index.cfm

Very fast, at least some of their order people are knowledgable about cars and catalogs, and very good prices.
Get on their catalog list--their specials will quickly let you know what lines they have and what prices are like, even though the few applications in the mailer aren't going to include any '52 Chevy stuff.
I really like them, and they do have a HAMB connection. Can't remember just what that is.
I'm currently not really "connected" at any local stores, and Northern is a pleasant substitute.
Last time I ordered, I was getting 6 cyl Chevy stuff, and the order taker, who was very knowledgable about SBC's, asked me a bunch of extra questions to expand his own know-how on sixes!
I got the feeling that anyone asking for older American iron is treated especially well in comparison to the Daihatsu Wombat SE folks.