c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

[Donald H.]

I have started to take my front end apart and just took off the left front wheel hub assembly and brake back plate. The wheel cylinder is 1 1/8" and has the number 8300 and USA stamped into it (see photo).

From and earlier thread, I understood that the 1960 had 1 3/16" front cylinders.

1. Is this a replacement wheel cylinder?
2. My car is a November '59 build, is it possible the early '60s had 1 1/8" wheel cylinders on the front?
3. If it is not an original and the others are the same, does it make sense to just replace them with aftermarket if they are not originals instead of rebuilding these? I know that I can hone and buy rebuild kits, but the pistons in this one are pretty corroded and I can't see to find rebuild kits with pistons.



Thanks,

Don

[Mike E.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

1) Not a correct delco cylinder.
2) Buy some new ones since those aren't original.
3) Put the drums on, and only you will know.

[Donald H.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

OK, so now my search for front wheel cylinders. Was the switch from 1 1/8" bore to 1 3/16" bore in the 1960 model year? The Nolan Adams book show 58 as being 1 1/8", no details for 59 or 60. Then shows 1 3/16" for 62.

So far from searching the forum I have found:

1. a recommendation to use Dorman W14493 and W14494 for front cylinders as they are the only ones that still sell 1 3/16" cylinders. However, when I look at their web site, these part numbers are listed as 1 1/8" cylinders.

2. another recommendation was to use NAPA cylinders for a 1969 International Truck. These part numbers are NAPA #37246 and #37247 are 1 3/16" bore. However, the recommendation also said that I would need to modify the back plate. I assume to the mounting hole.

[David H.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

NOS original 1 1/8" wheel cylinders quit often come up on Ebay at very reasonable prices. Why not buy nos if available? It is my understanding from having just been thru this that the cylinder bore size was somewhat dependent on rpo and engine size. My '62 340hp had metalic brakes and came with 1 3/16" cylinders on front and 1" on the rear. My buddies '61 had a 230hp with metalic brakes and the front were 1 1/8" and rear 1". Make sure what your car is suppose to have on it. The 1 1/8" may be correct. I was able to use my orginals by honing with a "blueberry hone". I was able to replace the rears with NOS from Ebay very reasonably.

[Jim L.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders and Big(ger) Brakes

2. another recommendation was to use NAPA cylinders for a 1969 International Truck. These part numbers NAPA #37246 and #37247 are 1 3/16" bore. However, the recommendation also said that I would need to modify the back plate. I assume to the mounting hole.

The NAPA cylinders are slightly longer than the original wheel cylinders. To mount them, a small amount of material must be removed from the piston retainers. No other changes are needed to use them.

The stock dimension between the piston retainers looks like this:




After some material removal, this becomes:



After modifying the backing plate, everything else reinstalls normally:




I've been using the NAPA wheel cylinders on my '60 for a couple of years now as part of what I call my Big(ger) Brake package. The shoes in the above picture are actually 2-1/4" wide, not the stock 2" and, the drums at all four corners on my car are finned:



The package works well.

Jim

[Gary C.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

'58 brake bleeder valves were a "recessed hex head" bolt. Change to the hose nipple style bleeder valve occurred in '59. Check the bleeder valve thread to make sure it's SAE and not metric if you plan to use the Paul Mazut bleeder valve SAE configuration. Gary....

[John S.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

standard brakes 53-59, 821-822 cylinders with 1 1/8" bores. in 1960 standard brakes use 5459527 and 5459528 with 1 3/16 bore. in the corvette restoration guide by bob baird it shows a 5459528 with a date code of december 3, 1959. the 5453821 and 5453822 might have been used for heavy duty applications in 1960.

[Wayne L.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

I have a rebuilt pair of 1-3/16" front cylinders; 5459527/8. They are cast K-25-0. These came off of an early 62 340hp Corvette.

[Dan D.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

White Post Restorations will bore out your original cylinders and press in a brass sleeves. Expensive, but you will have your original cylinders. -Dan-

[Donald H.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

standard brakes 53-59, 821-822 cylinders with 1 1/8" bores. in 1960 standard brakes use 5459527 and 5459528 with 1 3/16 bore. in the corvette restoration guide by bob baird it shows a 5459528 with a date code of december 3, 1959. the 5453821 and 5453822 might have been used for heavy duty applications in 1960.

So does this mean that the 1 3/16" bore started to go on cars in December of 59? My car is 1322 and was a November 59 build according to the info I have found in Nolan Adams book and VetteBirthday applications. I will be on the lookout for NOS on Ebay. I have a while before I will be putting the brakes back together.

Thanks,

Don

[Donald H.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

White Post Restorations will bore out your original cylinders and press in a brass sleeves. Expensive, but you will have your original cylinders. -Dan-

Unfortunately I don't have the originals to rebuild. It already has wheel cylinders, at least the front that were replaced some time over the last 50 years.

Don

[John S.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

the standard brakes on 1960 use the 1 3/16. the date code was mentioned because it was close to your build date.

[John S.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

the 1 1/8 appear on ebay fairly often, but i seldom see the 1 3/16 which are #5459527 and 5459528. partsqueen has a used pair on ebay for $60 that you can send out to be resleeved.

[Joe M.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

Jim,

Are the finned drums in your photo the same as Tom Parson modified drums from a later model chev?

Thanks,
Joe

[Randy G.]

Re: c1 (1960) wheel cylinders

I went to my local NAPA store and bought all four wheel cylinders for my '54. I took the old originals off and bagged them. The cylinders they gave me bolted right in, bleeders are in the right spot and they work fine. My only complaint was the "MADE IN CHINA" sticker on the plastic wrap on the cylinders inside the box.