Denis,
Reproductions of 57, 58 & 59 brake boosters are
available from a company called Karps out of Upland,
California. This company went to enormous trouble to replicate these
otherwise completely unobtainable to find parts a few years
ago. Chrysler 300s from this era also use them and their owners
created a demand for the part, thank goodness. I bought one a few
years ago. The price was very reasonable and the part itself is
phenomenally good. (I am one very cheap guy, and usually feel
entitled to complain if any part isn't sent to me just about
free and installed at their expense, too.) I cannot
recommend Karps highly enough.
Here is a link to their site:
They will offer to install the new part for you.
If I was you, I'd let them. You will have to send your old booster
to them by UPS unless you are close enough to drive it there. I have
replaced it myself but it is a lot of work. You'd be surprised how
many fiddly little parts are in the booster. You'll need to
completely remove the booster. There are eight bolts holding it on
and you know they are hard to get to. In the course of this
procedure, you will have to remove the master cylinder. Be prepared
for some issues with bleeding the system when you re-install it. In
my experience, it is next to impossible to power bleed a 1958 with the
original MC, although some people have suggested some ingenious ways to do
it. One way is to get a spare top for the MC - easier said than done
in itself - and drill a hole in it. You then get a hose of some sort
and feed fluid into it from a tank higher than the car, using
gravity.
It all sounds very complicated and it is. I know
you are in California. If you are anywhere near this place and they
agree to do it, have it towed to them and let them do it. Getting
the parts off and then back on again is not for the faint of heart.
Bleeding the system is very, very difficult.
Warning. I'll run hotter than
a three dollar gun when someone who does not have a 57, 58 or 59 writes in
to this list and says I am overstating the case in their lousy,
inexperienced, stupid, opinion. Unless you have done this job on
this era of car, keep your, "I would think . . . " opinions to
yourself. I wish you would think before you run right into the
facts. Trust me, I won't be subtle.
The brakes on this era of car can work very well when
they are set up correctly and well maintained. Setting them up is
not easy. Your average brake shop hardly has the tools to get the
rear hubs off let alone bleed an almost impossible to access round topped
single pot master cylinder.
Denis, I've had the pleasure of communicating with you
before. I'm glad you are getting the roof fixed on your beautiful
car. I hope your partner is well and is able to go with you on your
trip. I'm glad you don't need it to be ready till August. You
can relax and find a place that can get the brakes done
right.
Hugh
1958 Imperial
(With more brake experience on this car than I care to
think about.)
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2005
6:18 PM
Subject: IML: 1958 Brake
Bellows
Well, after two attempts to get the brake right on the 58, the
Bellows has a nasty leak in it. Are these still available, and where can
I get one? Perhaps the third time will be lucky? This car will be driven
850 miles down to Tucson in August or September.
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