Hey Hambers, So I started to overhaul my brake system on my 54 chevy 210 today. I started with the front brakes and let me tell ya there were a b*tch to take out... The drums seemed welded on the brake pads..after going balls out and lots of weisers..they slid out... Took all the springs,pads apart as well as the brake cylinders which looked ok.. After removal and further inspection I noticed a white substance (old dry tooth paste looking)Is that my freakin brake fluid? I removed thee brake hose from the hard line and no fluid came out..What the hell? Is this moisture that got in ? I was planning on pulling out the master as well and rebuilding it..Any ideas as to what this is and how the heck do I remove it? Will it be on my hard lines? I research and found no cases like mine.. all comments and suggestions appreciated...God bless
Not sure what you got there man. But could probably blow compressed air through the lines to make sure they're clear. Oh, and always a good idea to go ahead and put kits in the wheel cylinders while you have em out.
Did you crank the adjusters in before prying the drums off? No idea what the stuff is, clean it off if it's where fluid goes and I wouldn't worry about it especially if you're doing new lines and hoses. Shoes are the same through '58, hardware for the rear up to '62 will work, the wheel cylinders are the same as Corvette through '62 and the drum is the same 51-58 all and 59-68 rear. If I remember right there's a couple other wierd interchanges on them, too, like one year of Jeep trucks in the mid-70s or something (per Rock Auto). Napa had hoses that worked for mine for like $6 or $8 a shot when I bought them.
i recently upgraded my front brake to disc on my 50. i did not notice any white substance. also my drums were not hard to pull off either. when i disconnected the brake line minimal to no brake fluid came out either. i dont think thats a problem and you are going to bleed them after anyways so the system will be fine. once you rebuild the cylinders and clean everything up you should be fine. my $.02
Wow you guys are quick with the good info...I was dumb founded when I came across that crap...Looke dlike dry car wax...I was planning on doing a quick over haul to save some money..I hope that the hard lines are clear.. So the years mentioned will be a bolt on? I am having problems at my local parts store getting the cylinders for a 54.. and chevy car and truck shop in Orange Ca wants my blood type..I will try a different year.. As far as the brake ajuster does were rusted through .. so I did not bother loosing them up...The brake pads were literaly melted on the drums...I am on a true budget so I just sanded them up and sprayed some paint..I got new pads, and a master cylinder rebuild kit...I will definetly buy the front hoses, cylinders, adjuster, and springs. So the newer year brake parts will work on my car? Do I buy let say 58 bel air parts or 58 chevy truck parts or does it matter.. Thanks again for your feed back and knowledge..
The wheel cylinder pistons are aluminum and the wheel cylinder is cast iron, mix them together with moisture in the fluid and the resulting corrosion produces the white stuff.
Good info guys...Thx, Sweet rides by the way...I will tackle the job tomorrow..Hopefully I have enough time to cut a coil or 2 in the front so that it evens out with the back(3 inch blocks)..Will upload pics if I get that far see what ya guys think of my budget bomb!!!
Here are some pics of my 54...finally finished the brakes this morning.....I got all new harware,cylinders,and pads...and lots of grease for the dried up bearings.....cleaned and used a wire brush and scraped off all the gunky crap all over the under cariage..I ended up cutting 2 1/2 coils from the front with new shocks...Not low enough for me....Will try another tomorrow....