So I've had my 56 for about 10 yrs. and it's finally time to replace the brakes. A couple of wheel cylinders are leaking and the shoes are wet so I figured I'd replace all wheel cylinders and the shoes, repack my bearings and good to go. WRONG!
I went to the local Napa and got all the parts needed. Get the first wheel off and the brakes apart and notice the brake hose is cracked pretty bad so I send my wife back to Napa for a new one and the rest of them (change them all if one is bad)
When she returns I noticed the new brake hose outside diameter is smaller. I figure the original is probably internally the same size just the second cover is thicker on the old one.
Replaced the wheel cylinder with the new one and go to thread the new line on. NOPE. New line won't fit. Check the old line to the new wheel cylinder and it doesn't fit. Okay so Napa sells replacement wheel cylinders with 3/8 inlets and the old is 7/16.
Napa now closed so I call Autozone. Wheel cylinders are all 3/8" inlet according to the parts person on the phone.
I'm at a loss. Has anyone been here before and know where to get the correct parts?
I've looked at "Brother's" "CPP" and other sites that specialize on having parts for old trucks and couldn't get a solid answer on wheel cylinder inlet size. All the photo's are the same for all years.
So just to wrap up I'm looking for wheel cylinders that actually fit with a 7/16" inlet hole and do the newer style hoses matter if they're smaller. I was thinking a smaller diameter hose is going to let less fluid through and the truck will pull when braking.
I was thinking about just converting to disc brakes but I see I can't use stock wheels which means more $$$.
Just want to drive my truck...
