Some news:
In my quest for 7/8" wheel cyls for the front of my '55.1 truck, it was looking like I would have to have my old ones sleeved; no listing anywhere for new aftermarket cyls - not even in Wagner!
In looking through the brake books at my local jobber, I kept noticing the same shoe listing for 1.5 ton and bigger trucks up through the '80s: a # 109 shoe for 14" front brakes, which is the same shoe that my truck uses....
I took a chance and ordered front wheel cyls for 1964--'8? trucks (40, 4000 series) with 14" drum brakes, and was pleasnatly surprised when they arrived and were identical to my originals (fit '55.1 to '59) except that the flex hose screws into the cylinder @ a 45 deg. angle from the rear, instead of at a right angle to the wheel cyl bore as original.
There are no clearance problems with the steering knuckle, and no hard bends or "stretches" put on the flex hose. I might adjust the position of the flex hose bracket slightly to improve that geometry, but otherwise, it's a bolt-on deal !
(Not trying to divert business from our friends in the sleeving field - I am going to have my master cylinder sleeved - but for those of us on a tight budget, this is an economically attractive possibility for a discontinued part !)
Sadly, though, those #109 brake shoes are between $60 & $80 for the axle; can't wait to get into the rear wheels ! :o
Bigger truck, bigger repair bills ! :rolleyes:
I still like it, though !
Frank McMullen
