The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Anyone delt with White Post Restorations?

Hi guys,
I need to draw from the stovebolt knowlegebase...
The brakes went out on my 53 (don't ask ) and I'm determined it won't happen again. I pulled the master cylinder apart and found that its deeply pitted. The guys at White Post Restorations
( www.whitepost.com/brake.html ) say they will blast, hone, brass sleeve, and rebuild the mater cylinder for $150 plus postage, and they provide a lifetime guarantee. Sounds like a pretty good deal...has anyone had good/bad experiences with them?
Thanks much,
-Chris

haven't dealt w/ them personally, but know they've been doin vintage master and wheel cylinders for ages, and think if they were a bum deal they woulda gone under long ago - the price is prolly about what you'd pay for a new one, but the brass will hold up as long as you do, so yeah pretty good deal!

Bill

Considering the amount of labor involved, plus parts, I don't think that they are trying to rob you. Totally rebuilt with a brass sleeve, plus a lifetime guarantee sounds great, provided they are still around years from now if it wears out.
Personally, I would first look for a good used one.
Just out of curiousity, dosen't NAPA or O'Reilly sell rebuilt master cylinders? I purchased one for a '52 Ford 3/4 ton a few years ago

White Post Restorations are ace.$150 aint bad at all when it comes to your life.

Could be that NAPA or O'Reilly do..I'm new enough to not know one vendor from another. I saw these guys and, before I send my parts accross country, wanted to make sure it was the right choice. Figured you guys would know better then myself and with something as critical as brakes, I really want to make the right choice.
The sales guy was nice on the phone..and it sounds like a great deal for the price as red pointed out.
Thanks guys
-Chris

Have you considered going to a split system with a newer master cylinder? On my 59 truck the master was a solid lump of rust and I went with a newer system and plumbed the fronts and rears independent so if one side fails, I'd still have a bit of brakes like a modern car/truck. Might be a good time to do a bit of an upgrade.

I believe NAPA does carry them, my brother's Timberjack uses the same MC as some of these old chevies and they had it in stock. I believe it was alot cheaper than $150.

Rob

Chris,

I checked w/NAPA a few weeks ago for a NEW master cylinder for my 52. New, (not rebuilt) M/C was quoted at $169.99. Mine wasn't as bad as yours sounds, so I ended up buying the kit, and rebuilding it myself.

I believe the rebuild kit was around $22.00 w/tax and all.

Depending upon which model you have, I've seen them in some of the catalogs, i.e. Jim Carter's etc. for between $140 - $160. Alot of the parts places are offering special holiday savings right now, discounts and free shipping etc. so that might be a good place to check.

Also saw several on E-Bay, when I was looking that were advertised as being NOS. They were selling for around $80 on average, if I remember correctly.

I sent mine to Apple Hydraulics, http://www.applehydraulics.com/, a few years ago and put a rebuild kit in myself. Total cost now would be about $90 for both and they do excellent work.

Bob

i would have to agree on updating to a dual chambered master cylinder when i was going down the my girlfriends (winthrop, MN to Wisconsin Dells area) i blew a rear brake line on my 85 Chevy C10 (just north or Rochester, MN) i drove all the way there and all the way back with a broken brake line not a smart move i know but still i just bought a quart of brake fluid and added a little every now and then basicly it was like having no power brakes. my '70 needs a master cylinder (mine leaks) which explains why my brakes went out on me once because there was no fluid in it (just thought my lines leaked) so i'd just add a little hear and there but i checked at NAPA and a rebuilt M/C was like $22 with core
Nate

You can get a brand new one from American Classic for under $100.

Have a peek.

It's just a suggestion. Just so that you know, they do sponsor this website.

I have not had any experience with brass sleeved cylinders..... But I work with two guys that once worked for a company (for several years each) that sleeves cylinders with brass. They are of the opinion that it is worse than a good stock cast or aluminum cylinder. And they would never use brass sleeved cylinders if they had a choice.

They are both in the restoration business now and if they need something sleeved they send it to a guy in NY and have stainless sleeves put in, they have never had any problems with stainless. Apparently the seal will sometimes stick in the the brass bore and even if you push on the pedal you don't stop. They say that is the worst part, not knowing if they will work when you need them. The brass ones also quite frequently leak. So even if they offer a lifetime guarantee, do you want to remove it to send it back for repair?
This is from the experience of two friends that have dealt with 100's of brass sleeved things, not my own experience, and I suggest you ask some more questions before you commit to brass sleeves.

Wow Grigg.. I really thought sleeving would be a better option then a new cast unit. arswine has a point that an updated system would be safer..but I REALY want to keep my truck stock and at the same time, drive it safely and reliably. I dont mind paying a little more if I need to for the sake of quality etc. Afterall, I'll own this truck forever. Besides that, I've already convinced my wife that I need new brake lines too.. a little extra wont matter. So...anyone else have an opinion on brass vs Stainless or cast..etc? Or perhaps an outfit that sleeves in stainless if thats the better option?
By the way, Thanks to everyone for their opinions. I think theres more stovebolt specific experience on this website than I could ever hope to find elsewhere.
And here I thought I had my mind made up.

I'll get the number for the guy who does stainless sleeves this week and post it christmas weekend when I get back to the confuser.
Grigg

Here\'s one company's take on brass vs. stainless sleeving.

I just did the brake cylinders on a 1976 triumph bonneville motorcycle. They ONLY make stainless steel masters for this bike now. And its a big improvement.

Me too, eight years ago, came back looking better than new, daily driver. Cosmo

I have never had any work done by White Post, but I live in their area, and I have been in their shop. The reason I have never had them do any work, is that I can't afford them. They do extremely high dollar restorations. If you want your Dusenberg restored, call them. If you want a little work done to the fender of your rusty bolt, you probably can't afford them. They have people on their staff that can make obsolete parts from scratch, if you want to pay for it, the can do it. I don't know about brass sleeves one way or another, but I feel sure the work would be done in a satisfactory manner.

In my case I bought a new master cylinder from NAPA. I don't remember the cost, but I don't think it was $150.00 Allen

I had White Post put stainless sleeves in my '62 Corvette wheel cylinders about 10 years ago. For the hard core restoration, keeping the original Delco cylinders is a consideration.

I've had zero problems with them and the service was prompt.

I had a '39-'46 master sleeved in SS about 4-5 years ago by a local company. Cost was $65. (more now I'm sure) They repair and sell brake parts for all kinds of old cars, trucks, tractors, forklifts, whatever. They ship parts to many of the suppliers across the country.

Brake and Equipment Warehouse
455 Harrison St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612)378-3141
(800)233-4053