The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk First year of hydraulic brakes?

What year did chevy put hydraulic brakes in their pickups?

I think it was '36

1936 is correct. It was a mid-year change. There was also a cab change at the same time. The early '36 with mechanical brakes used the same cab as the '35, and is referred to as the "High Cab". the hydraulic brake trucks had a lower roofline cab that I think was used to '38, they are the "Low Cab" models.
Side note; Ford did not get hydraulic brakes until 1940, Henry was very stubborn about change, and he didn't feel that hydraulic brakes were any better than mechanical.

LONGBOX55 -

Until recently, I thought the 36 low cab was the same exact cab as the 37-38 cab, but have found out it isn't. The 36 low cab had wood under the dash and in the door pillars and the windshield line was a little more flat than the 37-38 cab windshield line. There may be other differences, but they are so subtle that it is hard to see as you look at one of the 36 cabs.

Joe

That's what I thought, too. Now that I look at the pictures in my guide book, I can see the differences. They sure do look similar.

there seems to be more info available for the '34's and '36's than for the '35 models... i did find a pretty good little website that has some good info on the series... it is called the 34-36 chevy pickup webpage but i don't recall the web address... it helped answer some of my quesions when i bought my '35 pickup...
bill in VA

Sorry but the 1936 1/2 tons high cab & low cab all had hydraulic brakes. The only 36 that did not have hydraulics was the 1.5 ton trucks for the first 2-3 months of production (models R). If you need any information on 1934 or 35 just ask me, there isn't much I don't know about these years both 1/2 & 1.5 tons.

There is a lot of mis-information on the 34 & 35 trucks on the 34-36 web site your talking about. I have sent the guy corrections but he doesn't change them.

The first Chevrolet trucks to have hydraulic brakes were the 1935 Canadian Maple Leaf 2 ton trucks.

The 1935 GMC T-16, 3/4 ton had hydraulic brakes. All of the 1936 GMC line had hydraulic brakes.

Ford actually went hydraulic in '39 - but yep, way late & resistant to change

thanks '35 trucker... i appreciate any accurate info on '35 chevy trucks i can find... what have you used as your sources for information?... i would like to obtain that information to have on hand...
bill in VA

I have just about every piece of 1934 & 35 and some 36 truck Chevrolet publication they put out as well as being the owner of a many(6) 34-35 trucks 1/2 ton and 1.5 ton trucks.

Thank you for the great information. I will have to upgrade my 35 a little bit to get decent braking.

35chev I have a 36 1.5 ton chassis that I would be willing to sell; it has all four hydraulic brakes & brake pedal if your interested.