The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1950 1.5 ton brake questions

Hey All,

Going through the brakes on my 1950 1.5 ton ... working on the rear axle now. Shoes were pretty close to the rivets, so they are being re-lined at a local big truck shop.

I also plan on going through the wheel cylinders, replacing all steel lines (these look rusty) and hoses as well as rear axle grease seals.

The guy in this shop told me to get him the numbers off of the wheel cylinders (these are the kind with the rotating adjusting pinions on the backing plate) and grease seals and he should be able to get rebuild kits/seals. He wasn't sure about getting new brake hardware (lock clips on the end of the shoe pins, etc).

I saw in another post that the seal on a 2-ton is a National 6358 ... is that the same on the 1.5 ton?

Any hints on wheel cylinder parts? The shop manual says not to hone the cylinder ... I wonder why?

Or hardware kits?

Thanks, as always, for your help!!

-Dan

PS- been having a great time driving this truck and finally decided that neglecting the operable (but condition unknown) brakes was a bad idea...

Jim Carter ( www.oldchevytrucks.com - pg.79 ) sells rebuild kits or replacement cylinders . Ed H

Hy 54Dan, wheel cylinder kits Raybestos p/n WK37 = Napa UP37 $16.99, Jim Carter p/n ME935 $15.00
Seal 3686530 = Napa NOS31870 $29.99
Wheel cylinders, no longer listed in my Raybestos catalogue, however Jim Carter lists them p/n MEW326 $79.00, hope that helps.

My 1951 3800 has a similar Huck style brake system, infact, I'm almost certain our rear cylinders are the same. Check out my photobucket pictures on my gallery page to see for sure, or I can email you some photos of mine. I tried to hone my cylinders, but couldnt make them clean enough, so I bought new ones through classic chevy parts. The hardware is also available. They're pricey, but I think you are better off replacing them. Now my challenge is finding rebuild parts for the Bendix Hydravac unit. Good luck.

Android,

For what it's worth, PRECISION REBUILDERS will remanufacture your Hydrovac if you want. Usually, you take it to a local big truck suppier/repair place near you, and they either swap it out for a reman. unit they have on the shelf, or ship it to Precision to take care of it.

They're a good outfit - consider giving them a call if you can't find anything else.

-Michael

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for al the tips! I think I can round up all the pieces now, with one exception ...

I have one cut and one frozen parking/emergency brake cable. Looks like you can find up to 1 ton cables, but no one seems to have 1.5 ton and larger. Guess my only option is to make or have one made?

Thanks again ...

-Dan

If new are not available there are speciality shops that bore and sleeve cylinders if yours are too far gone to clean up.

This question is along the same lines.I am looking for the banjo bolt and copper washer for the brake lines. same truck 1.5 ton chevy