The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1.5" rear wheel cylinders for a '50 4100 - where to get?

So far I have only found a single source for these wheel cylinders - oldchevytrucks.com. They're selling them for $90 a piece. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Napa has a few listings, but nothing for a 1.5 ton truck, only up to a 1 ton.

You could see if there is a part# cast into the cylinder and have NAPA check for that reference.

Actually, Napa has all kinds of stuff listed online for bigger trucks. If you go on their site, click add vehicle, at the top of that popup, choose "other vehicle types" and choose medium/heavy and go from there. They show wheel cylinder kits for the rear, but I don't see the cylinders. (UP37
RockAuto has the wheel cylinders also WK37

Napa and Rock Auto only carry them up to a 3900 model. They are similar, but not interchangeable. The 1.5 and 2 ton trucks use a slightly longer wheel cylinder than the 1 ton and 1.25 ton trucks did. The shorter cylinder will actually bolt in place and 'work', but the adjustment range will be too short.

Rock Auto and Napa both carry the 1.5" rebuild kits, but the largest cylinders they show online in their catalog are 1.375" bore.

that's a bummer. Do you have a wagner or united part #? You might try Brake and Clutch supply in Seattle. I have been doing business with them since the late 70's.

Hy mechanic58, my jobber parts books show the rear wheel cylinders as United part number 3677, that crosses to Napa p/n UP3677 reserve online price $52.49, the Raybestos p/n at RockAuto is WC3677 $61.79, hope that helps.

It's a relatively simple procedure to rebore the cylinders and install stainless steel liners. Don't throw away the old ones. Just about any machinist worthy of the name should be able to do that.
Jerry

I agree and I would've certainly salvaged them if I could have, but I had to destroy them in order to get the brake apart.

Hmm, thanks for that information. Looking at the picture of it on RockAuto though it doesn't look long enough. I still haven't finished getting mine apart yet. Once I do then I'll be able to figure this out more definitively.

The ones I bought from Jim Carter were foreign made and the adjuster slots on the end caps appeared to have been cut in with a grinder rather than cast. If your removal technique didn't destroy your end caps I would save them to use if needed. The adjuster slotted screws also have a shoulder which the carter ones did not. The shoulder keeps you from accidentally backing the screw all the way flush with the end cap and out of contact with the shoe. I have been able to salvage the original screws by soaking with penetrating oil. Carter may have resolved those quality control issues by now it has been a few years since I bought those wheel cylinders. Some of the wheel cylinder kits for 1.5 inch do not contain new pistons only the rubbers and spring.

Alretta Truck Parts has them. (508)788-9409, ask for Geoff. A friend of mine just got his from there for his '53 Chevrolet 5400 series COE Wrecker

Welp, I got one side apart this evening. The cylinder itself is still usable, but I had to bust up one of the end caps. What I ended up doing was un-bolting the cylinder from the backing plate after I got one end cap busted off. Then I was able to use an air chisel with a punch on it to knock the cylinder inboard of the backing plate where it was 'loose'. Once it was loose, then I was able to reach through the 1/2" hole I drilled in the front side of the brake drum with a long punch and pry down the pushrod/adjuster on the side I busted the cap off of. This allowed the whole cylinder to cock sideways and the shoes to retreat. Didn't tear up anything else. The p/n on the cylinder is 5300892.

I really appreciate this tip. I ended up buying a set from Rock Auto. I am still shocked that they had these in stock. They even have the best price of anyone else, by far. I buy stuff from Rock Auto all the time. They even sell seat upholstery for these trucks far cheaper than you can buy it anywhere else that I have found. That shocks me too.

I've had similar successes with info from the Stovebolt.
Isn't the Stovebolt awesome!

Yep

Rock Auto rocks.
I returned a set of Main bearing shims that were defective and when they got them back they called me and the nice lady asked me for a detailed description of the defect so she could pass it on to the supplier. They credited me the $35 immediately. Besides that their prices on main bearings were the best I found.

I just thought I would pass on that I bought a pair of these 1.5" wheel cylinders off eBay for $90 shipped. The Dorman part number was W3677. They are listed as fitting 47-50 GMC models, but according to my Mk I eyeballs, they are the same as the Chevy ones. I will post back with a follow up after I get them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331809635528?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The fedex guy dropped my wheel cylinders off yesterday, I can now confirm that Dorman W3677 wheel cylinders are the right ones for Chevy 1.5 tons with the 50 and earlier Huck brakes. (At least for the types with the single 1.5" rear wheel cylinder.)

Decided to get my master cylinder and wheel cylinders sleeved with stainless steel sleeves. The cost was slightly higher than the Rock Auto prices on the 1.5" cylinders, about the same on the 1.25" cylinders. Master cylinder sleeving was cheaper than last master cylinder I bought at local flaps. Cost of sleeving included chasing the threads on wheel cylinders and master cylinder. Did not include wheel and master cylinder rebuild kits. I mailed them out last Saturday and they were waiting on me when I got home Friday night.

Who did the sleeving work for you and what did they charge if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks,

Mike B

I used R K Sleeving, Upland, CA. (Ron Karp)
69 for the 1.25 wheel cylinders each, 79 for the 1.5 wheel cylinders each, 115 for the1.25 master cylinder. I mailed them out on Saturday and they were back Friday. The Gentleman I talked to was Bruce. Those prices did not include rebuild kits. there was a place in Michigan that included the kits but I did not get at price on them as didn't find their ad in my recent searches.